Massive Water Diversion Schemes In
North America: A Solution To Water Scarcity?
Author(s)
F. Lasserre
Abstract
Massive water diversion projects have been proposed by engineers or public
officials in the United States since 1951, but so far, only regional water transfers
have been built, often at great cost and questionable economic benefit. Public
opinions and governments are still worried in Canada and in the Great Lakes
area that these projects could somehow be carried on. However, these massive
undertakings prove to be poorly profitable compared to other means of water
management, and are not necessary since water withdrawals are stabilizing in the
United States, and other demand management techniques are emerging.
Keywords: water supply, water diversion, aqueduct, water transfer, irrigation,
water conflict, Canada, United States.
1 Massive water transfer projects were once considered
Large-scale diversions of Great Lakes and Canada's waters have been discussed
for several decades. Various proposals for transferring Canadian or Great Lakes
water have emerged since the 1950s, beginning with the United Western
Investigation in 1951, an extensive study conducted by the Bureau of
Reclamation. The proposals have often been made by engineering corporations
because of the obvious possibility to profit from large construction projects.
Proposals to import water were also meant to satisfy rapidly growing urban areas
like Phoenix and Las Vegas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the top five
fastest-growing cities in the U.S. from 2000 to 2002 were all in Arizona and
Nevada. With this great influx of people to an area with no substantial supply of
freshwater, the temptation to look at the large water reserves in northern United
States and in Canada was strong.
Keywords
water supply, water diversion, aqueduct, water transfer, irrigation,
water conflict, Canada, United States.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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