Page - 25 - in Water, Energy, and Environment - A Primer

low-lying areas, and cause infusions of seawater into freshwater supplies, putting thedrinkingwater ofmillionsof people at risk. Another concern is that competition for water resources is already limiting electricity production: operating licenses for some thermal power plants have been denied or issued with water use restrictions.An additional concern is that a significant fraction of goods are moved by freight on inland waterways. If competing demands for water limit the depth of such waterways, more energy will be required to move these goods by less efficient rail and truck. 3.2 THEPOLICYLINKAGE Afurther linkage exists in the recognition that energy andwater policy can be expressed in exactly the same terms. Energy security requires that we use the least amount of energy to provide energy services, and thatwehaveaccess to technologies that provide a diverse supply of reliable, affordable and environmentally benign energy. This implies that the first priority of an energy policy must be the wise, efficient use of whatever energy supplies are available (whether fossil fuel, nuclear or renewable). The next focus must then be on finding new energy supplies that meet sustainability and environmental requirements. The same words, with water replacing energy, canbeused todescribewaterpolicy. 3.3 THECONUNDRUM It is clear that the energy security of a nation is closely linked to the state of its water resources. No longer can water resources be taken for granted if energy security is to be achievedormaintained.At the same time,water security cannot be guaranteed without careful attention to the energy issues involved in provision of water services. Built into this relationship is a conundrum: policy goals associated with Exploring the linkagebetweenwaterandenergy 25