Water Waste in Agriculture

The agriculture industry utilizes the largest portion of the water supply within that supply water is lost between poor irrigation, contamination, and poor management. Farmers and large agricultural plants have to establish water efficiency levels in order to reduce waste. Reduce, but not eliminate. Farms make up about 70% of all the water consumed globally and within that 70%, 30% is actually used and the other 40% is lost in waste. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the agriculutre industry (surplus) the usage of fertilizers, pesticides, and other pest replent techniques that are used on crops water becomes highly contaminated. This water can’t be reused without treatment and that is costly. The untreated waste water is then transported elsewhere but can still impose a threat to said environment. On the brighter side of things there are many ways in which farmers in the agriculture industry can reduce waste water. Such as efficient irrigation, capturing and storing water, crop rotations, and composting mulch.

218 thoughts on “Water Waste in Agriculture

  1. If water continues to be contaminated then we will be wasting a lot more water. What will the future look like if too much water is not drinkable?

  2. Those stats are insane. It says a lot about our current level of sustainability and water consumption.

  3. I thought it was important that you pointed out how the water cannot be reused and therefore it is essentially wasted.