The large water footprints for beef, pork and other meats indicate the large volumes of water used for their production. They also suggest a great use of resources beyond water. The question then becomes, why is raising livestock and poultry for meat so resource-intensive? This is the second of three posts about the possible limits […]
The monumental merger between Smithfield and Shaunghui (now WH Group) – two giant pork producers – was a foregone conclusion, as it turns out. One big question lingers: Was the deal a trade of water for waste? This post about Smithfield foods is the first of three posts about the possible limits to global meat […]
Pharmaceuticals, personal care products and a whole host of other compounds — classified as ‘emerging contaminants,’ — are increasingly being detected in surface water and they’re causing problems. Emerging Contaminants Found in Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products Require Careful Disposal Recently, I was filling a prescription at a local pharmacy and I brought some unused prescription drugs […]
Water conservation plans in many states are more or less effective because many states have laws and policies that hinder their effectiveness. How’s your state doing? Find out in this Alliance for Water Efficiency report. [The Water Efficiency and Conservation State Scorecard just updated. The new version was released in January 2023. Before that is […]
Emerging contaminants are pollutants that pose a real or perceived threat to human health or that lack a published health standard. Some are endocrine disruptors or can cause cancer. Over 80,000 Known Chemicals on the Market; EPA-Required Full Toxicity Testing for Only 200; Just Five Are Regulated Miss those chemistry experiments in high school? Well then it’s time […]
Triclosan is the antibacterial part of antibacterial hand soap. It is used in many personal care products to stop the growth of bacteria, fungus and mildew, as well as to deodorize. It is in just about everything (including 75 percent of people tested for it) and it has been listed as a possible endocrine disruptor. Triclosan […]
FIJI Water’s parent company faces problems with the 125,000-acre Paramount Farms almond and pistachio orchards in California’s San Joaquin Valley. FIJI Water versus Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District So far, 2011 has been a tough year for scandal-prone California agribusiness giant and holding company, Roll International, which might be part of the reason for the […]
Prince King Charles ensured that the Water Footprint of Beef was a big topic of discussion at the Future of Food conference in May 2011. King Charles (then Prince of Wales) issued a stern warning at the Future of Food conference way back in May 2011 – and in the process stirred up a long […]
Thermoelectric power and water use throughout the United States are in conflict, according to this report from the Union of Concerned Scientists. The thermoelectric power production industry has a water addiction and is in denial about it Thermoelectric power plants are responsible for 41 percent of all water withdrawals in the United States, slightly less than the combined amount […]
