Eliminate Water Subsidies Neg MH

Eliminate Water Subsidies(Neg) Matthew Hamilton, Eveready
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Eliminate Water Subsidies(Neg)

Table of Contents
1. Different Water Shortage Causes...........................................................................................................1
A) Corn-Based Ethanol..............................................................................................................................1
1.1 Corn For Ethanol.............................................................................................................................1
1.2 Corn Ethanol Conversion Process Uses 3 lbs Water.......................................................................1
1.3 Extremely Water-Intensive..............................................................................................................2
1.4 Water and Land Intensive................................................................................................................2
B) Other......................................................................................................................................................2
1.5 Freshwater Oil Spills.......................................................................................................................2
1.6 Wasteful Irrigation...........................................................................................................................3
1.7 Population Increase.........................................................................................................................3
1.8 Strict Environmental Regulations...................................................................................................3
1. Different Water Shortage Causes
A) Corn-Based Ethanol
1.1 Corn For Ethanol

Jim Moscou, “Liquid Gold”, Newsweek, February 21, 2008, http://www.newsweek.com/id/114364
But the green-fuel boom touted as a clean, eco-friendly alternative to gasoline is proving to have its
own dirty costs. Growing corn demands lots of water, and, in eastern Colorado, this means intensive
irrigation from an already stressed water table, the great Ogallala Aquifer. One sign of trouble: in just
the past two decades, farmers tapping into the local aquifers have helped to shorten the North Fork of
the Republican River, which starts in Yuma County, by 10 miles. The ethanol boom will only hasten the
drop further, say scientist and engineers studying the aquifers. The region's water shortage has pitted
water-hungry farmers against one another. And lurking in the cornrows: lawsuits and interstate water
squabbles could shut down eastern Colorado's estimated $500 million annual ethanol bonanza with the
swing of a judge's gavel. Collectively, "[ethanol] is clearly not sustainable," says Jerald Schnoor, a
professor of engineering at the University of Iowa and co-chairman of an October 2007 National
Research Council study for Congress that was critical of ethanol. "Production will have serious impacts
in water-stressed regions." And in eastern Colorado, there's lots of water stress.
1.2 Corn Ethanol Conversion Process Uses 3 lbs Water

“Energy and Water: Preliminary Observations on the Links between Water and Biofuels and Electricity
Production”, Government Accountability Office, July 9, 2009, http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-
862T
1 of 3
___________________________________________________________________________________________
While water usage in the corn-based ethanol conversion process has been declining and is currently
estimated at 3 gallons of water per gallon of ethanol, the amount of water consumed in the conversion
of cellulosic feedstocks is less defined and will depend on the process and on technological
advancements that improve the efficiency with which water is used. Finally, additional research is
needed on the storage and distribution of biofuels.
1.3 Extremely Water-Intensive

George F. Will, “The Biofuel Follies”, Newsweek, February 11, 2008,
http://www.newsweek.com/id/107575/page/1
Americans can still drill for … water. Water rights (T. Boone Pickens has bought 400,000 acres of them
in the Texas Panhandle) are becoming more valuable as ethanol production, which is extremely water-
intensive, puts pressure on supplies.
1.4 Water and Land Intensive

Kenneth Green[an environmental scientist by training, studied environmental policy for more than ten
years at think tanks in California and Canada prior to joining AEI.], American Enterprise Institute for
Public Policy Research, August 12, 2008, http://www.aei.org/article/28452
Expanding ethanol use will not reduce global warming, bring down gas prices, relieve our dependence
on foreign oil, starve terrorists of funding, restore the family farm, or create jobs. In fact, using more
ethanol increases greenhouse gas production and local air pollution and is water-intensive as well as
land-intensive.
B) Other
1.5 Freshwater Oil Spills

“Emergency Management:, Environmental Protection Agency, updated March 17, 2009,
http://www.epa.gov/OEM/content/learning/freshwat.htm
Oil spills occurring in freshwater bodies are less publicized than spills into the ocean even though
freshwater oil spills are more frequent and often more destructive to the environment. Freshwater
bodies are highly sensitive to oil spills and are important to human health and the environment. They
are often used for drinking water and frequently serve as nesting grounds and food sources for various
freshwater organisms. All types of freshwater organisms are susceptible to the deadly effects of spilled
oil, including mammals, aquatic birds, fish, insects, microorganisms, and vegetation. In addition, the
effects of spilled oil on freshwater microorganisms, invertebrates, and algae tend to move up the food
chain and affect other species.
2 of 3
___________________________________________________________________________________________
1.6 Wasteful Irrigation

Prof. Rebecca Schneider, natural resources , “Prof Explores Causes of Water Shortage”, Evelyn Sotto,
the Cornell Daily Sun, November 3, 2009, http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2009/11/02/prof-
explores-causes-water-shortage
Wasteful irrigation practices constituted another factor through which people deplete the amount of
available freshwater. The presentation noted that irrigation accounts for 70 percent of the world’s water
consumption and that 50 percent of the water taken from the source never reaches the crop. For
instance, gravity-fed and sprinkler irrigation, though a low-cost option, allow a sizable amount of
evaporation to occur.
1.7 Population Increase

Doug Struck interview with states “Science: Climate Change and Water Supplies”, the Washington
Post, August 20, 2007, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/discussion/2007/08/17/DI2007081701268.html
Scottsville, Va: Second, the real problem for the earth is simply overpopulation. If the planet's
population keeps growing, a shortage of water is inevitable no matter how warm or cold it gets. And if
that population has access to carbon-producing technology, what we have seen is only a hint of what's
to come and all those hybrid cars and other conservation measures will be ineffective.
1.8 Strict Environmental Regulations

Katie Paul, “Dying on the Vine”, Newsweek, August 24, 2009, http://www.newsweek.com/id/211381
After three years of drought, California's legendary water wars are flaring once again, and towns like
Mendota, San Joaquin, and Firebaugh are getting a first glimpse of what their future might look like.
Farmers blame the area's blight on a "man-made drought" brought on by increasingly strict
environmental regulations, but that is only the beginning of the story. There's also the crushing
confluence of political negligence, drought, and a century's worth of unbridled growth. Now, as
residents wonder if normalcy will ever return, planners are forced to consider a far uglier question:
should it? Is a new "normal" required?
3 of 3

Eliminate Water Subsidies Neg MH

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Eliminate Water Subsidies Neg MH

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Eliminate Water Subsidies Neg MH

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Eliminate Water Subsidies(Neg) Matthew Hamilton, Eveready

Eliminate Water Subsidies(Neg)

1. Different Water Shortage Causes

1.1 Corn For Ethanol

1.2 Corn Ethanol Conversion Process Uses 3 lbs Water

1.3 Extremely Water-Intensive

1.4 Water and Land Intensive

1.5 Freshwater Oil Spills

1.6 Wasteful Irrigation

1.7 Population Increase

1.8 Strict Environmental Regulations

You might also like