United+States+-+Comparison

Water Crisis in the United States? * = = = Introduction: = The United States is located on the North American continent south of Canada and north of Mexico. The east coast is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the west coast is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. The **total area** occupied by the United States is approximately **9,800,000 sq km**. Of this total area, approximately **9,162, 000 sq km (93%) is land** area while approximately **665,000 sq km (7%) is water** area. The United States is about half the size of Russia and 3/10 the size of Africa but is more than twice the size of the European Union (there are 28 countries in the EU). //The area of water in the United States is larger than the entire area of the following countries: Bangladesh, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, and Kenya.// Note: to give you an idea of how large **1 sq km is, Port Allegany covers an area of 4.662 sq km**. (2+million plus P.A.) Climate:  With its vast size, the climate across the country varies. Most of the country is temperate (experience mild changes in temperature). However, tropical regions exist in Hawaii and parts of Florida and arctic conditions occur in Alaska. There are also semiarid regions in the Great Plains and desert conditions in the southwest. Land and Water Usage: Approximately **1.5 million sq km (~16%) of land** area in the United States is considered **arable land** (suitable for growing crops). **//The area of arable land in the United States is larger than the total area for each of the following country's: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, and Uganda//**. Of this 1.5 million sq km of farm land, **266,000 sq km must be irrigated** to generate crops.

The United States has **3,069 cu km of renewable water resources**. //FYI - __1 cubic km of is equal to 264+ billion gallons__ (264,000,000,000)//. Approximately **478 cu km (126+ trillion gallons) of freshwater is withdrawn each year** in the United States. 14% of this withdrawal is used for domestic purposes while 46% is used for industrial processes, and 40% is used for agriculture.

**Primary concerns** regarding water in the United States **is pollution from the runoff of pesticides and fertilizers from farm land** and the **lack of freshwater sources in the south western regions of the country**. In order to provide for the people living in that region, careful management of resources is needed to avoid desertification. Population and Conditions: The United States has an estimated **population of 319,000,000 people**. This places the US as having the 4th largest population in the world, behind China, India, and the European Union. However, as the US is the 3rd largest country in the world (Russia being the largest followed by Canada), the population density is low (34 people/sq km) compared to that of countries like China (144 people/sq km) and India (410 people/sq km). This population density varies in locales throughout the country with some states having a lower population density (Alaska 0.488 people/sq km) and others having a higher population density (New Jersey 465 people/sq km).

People in the United States are very fortunate when it comes to the water supply. **Most of people (98.8%) have access to improved* water sources and most (99.6%) have access to improved sanitation facilities***. Because of this, there are no reportable food or waterborne diseases or water contact diseases identified. If these diseases exist, they are negligible. = Water Crisis? =  Currently, the country as a whole is not experiencing a water crisis. However, due to severe drought in the SW parts of the country (California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) there are isolated regions where water crises are being dealt with. However, as the natural climate for this region is arid (having little or no rain - desert like), these are conditions that can be expected to occur on a regular basis. *NOTE: __improved drinking water__ - piped water into dwelling, yard, or plot; public tap or standpipe; tubewell or borehole; protected dug well or spring; rainwater collection. __unimproved drinking water__ - unprotected dug well or spring; cart with small tank or drum; tanker truck; surface water (rivers, dams, lakes, ponds, streams, canals or irrigation channels) or bottled water. __improved sanitation__ - flush or pour-flush to a piped sewer system, septic tank or pit latrine; ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine; pit latrine with slab; or a composting toilet. __unimproved sanitation__ - flush or pour-flush not piped to a sewer system, septic tank or pit latrine; pit latrine without a slab or open pit; bucket; hanging toilet or hanging latrine; shared facilities of any type; no facilities; or bush or field.