which two uses consume most freshwater in the united states?
Which two uses consume most freshwater in the United States?
Answer:
The two primary uses that consume the most freshwater in the United States are agricultural irrigation and thermoelectric power generation.
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Agricultural Irrigation: Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater in the United States. Crops require substantial amounts of water for growth, especially in arid regions where natural rainfall is limited. Therefore, agricultural irrigation accounts for a significant portion of freshwater usage.
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Thermoelectric Power Generation: Thermoelectric power generation involves the use of water for cooling purposes in power plants. These power plants extract water from lakes, rivers, or underground sources to cool their systems and then discharge the heated water back into the environment. Thermoelectric power plants are one of the major consumers of freshwater due to the high demand for electricity in the country.
Efforts are being made to promote water conservation practices in both sectors to ensure the sustainability of freshwater resources for future generations.