Water Requirements, Availabilities, Constraints, and Recommended Federal Actions

Book excerpt: This report is a technical analysis of the Water Resources Council prepared to determine the degree to which the water resources of the United States will be able to accommodate potential increases in energy production. The study considers the competition of energy-related water requirements with existing or anticipated future water uses for other purposes; accommodation of energy-related water requirements with other competing uses; the magnitude and extent of any water supply shortages, water quality, institutional and other water supply problems (environmental, capital investment, manpower, inter-basin transfer) that may restrict or prevent selected future condition energy development scenarios from being implemented; water-related Federal actions required to overcome problems and constraints of the nature described above; the requirements which need to be placed on hydroelectric power generation capability to assist in meeting the Nation's energy needs.