So this is starting to be a concern. (Probably has been for awhile, actually.)
Two perspectives:
Rising water usage worries experts
"Rising U.S. water usage is worrying experts who will gather April 15 at this year's intelligent water summit in Washington. Ironically, water consumption has risen because of the drive toward renewable energy. Solar power generation consumes huge quantities of water, as does production of other forms of energy.
Added to the emerging correlation between solar power generation and water resources is the industry prognosis that solar plants are here to stay, while all traditional projects dependent on hydrocarbon resources eventually will run out of the fuel and shut down, as has happened with coalmines, analysts said."
World Water Day: why business needs to worry
"Most people equate water consumption with what they use in their homes and places of work, but the challenge facing the globe goes much, much further than that. The 2030 Water Resources Group, a collaboration between the private and social sectors to discover solutions to combat water scarcity, estimates that global water requirements will grow by over 50% over the next 20 years. Such levels of usage will be 40% greater than what can currently be sustainably supplied."
Yikes. Desalination won't cover THAT gap.
Speaking of conservation (I knew he was gonna go there):
"Efficiency must also be a focus for industry and those responsible for planning and managing economic development. Companies and governments are often quick to trumpet their energy efficiency achievements, but too few have taken the same approach with water."
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