ABSTRACT

As mentioned in Chapter 1, the largest consumptive users of water in the world are, by a significant margin, the producers’ good types. Irrigation of agricultural crops accounts for a major portion of the world’s water withdrawals, and represents the largest single consumptive use class. Industrial (including manufacturing and commercial) uses account for another important part of withdrawals, but, because less evapotranspiration is involved, for a smaller but still significant amount of consumptive uses. While most industrial firms withdraw and consume at least some water, the major uses in this category are electrical power generation and the manufacture of chemical, paper, foods, and beverages.