George Wenzel wrote:
In article s%qXc.315054$a24.231117@attbi_s03,
says...
I don't get it. First, water is cheap, $3 per 1000 gallons.

True, but considering the energy required to constantly treat and
purify potable water, why waste it?

It takes the same amount of effort to purify 1 gallon of water as it does 10
gallons. It what's IN the water that gets treated.


Second, there is no shortage of water in the world.

Lucky for you to live in an area with a good water treatment system
and a plentiful supply of drinkable water.

Everybody lives in an area with potable water. Without potable water, they
die.


Most of the water is in polar ice and the oceans.

And, as such, isn't drinkable. You're quite right when you say that
there's plenty of water on the planet. Problem is, over 99% of it
isn't drinkable. What is drinkable (i.e. fresh water not salt water)
requires massive amounts of treatment to remove bacteria and other
nasties before it gets piped into homes. No sense wasting it,
especially when low-flush toilets are available that do a fine job of
removing waste.

What makes you think it's wasted? When you burn Hydrogen in the presence of
Oxygen, you get fresh water. All other water is used water.