  
     
|
|
Spring/Summer 2002 Newsletter
|
What is a Healthy Environment Worth?
Recreational fishing in coastal Georgia was estimated to generate $350
million in business activity during 2000.
If this region reflects the national average (nature-based tourism
averaging one-quarter of total tourism), at least $450 million a year in our
tourism business activity is derived from natural resources.
Commercial fishing, while in decline, is still a major economic factor in
coastal Georgia between $200 and $250 million estimated total annual
business impact.
This combined annual total of a one billion dollar nature-based business
sector supports an estimated 40,000 jobs in the region, and many coastal
communities depend on them.
National studies find that natural features enhance property value of
homesites by up to 30%
Respiratory illnesses, birth defects, and other health problems caused by
pollution can be controlled through wiser and safer use of natural
resources.
|
Water Use Highlights and Alternatives
The combined use of several large industrial water users in the Georgia
coastal area alone is equivalent to an amount of water that would support an
additional 800,000 people, far more than the existing population.
Statewide, in 1995 total industrial use was 675.8 million gallons a day -
equivalent to the water needed to support a population of nearly 4.7 million
people. A 10% cutback by industry would support 470,000 people.
Agriculture is estimated to be using three times more than industry,
comparable to the water demand of more than 14 million residents. Reducing
farm water use by only 10% would serve 1.4 million people.
But the lion's share of total Georgia water use is for power generation.
Of the total water use estimated in Georgia in 1995, more than half of all
water withdrawn from rivers and wells was used for electric generation.
Modest conservation steps saving just 10% in this sector would support more
than 2 million residents.
Although most of the water in power production is returned to rivers after
being used for cooling, much is lost to steam - a minimum of around 20% of
all water used in Georgia literally goes up in smoke every day.
Desalination, the purification of seawater, is very energy intensive.
Conventional forms of energy use large amounts of fresh water for cooling
and also add to pollution of air, water and fish.
|
|
|
