why is it a problem that it takes so much water to produce 1kg of beef – something like 15,000 liters – if the cows just pee it all back out anyway?

Question

why is it a problem that it takes so much water to produce 1kg of beef – something like 15,000 liters – if the cows just pee it all back out anyway?

In: 10104

Answer 1

Water is drawn from deep underground aquifers through wells and peed onto arid ground where it evaporates and moves elsewhere. Eventually the well runs dry in an arid region, like where many ranches are located. It can takes hundreds or even thousands of years to replenish an aquifer through groundwater replenishment in a dry region… more so when huge quantities are drawn for residential and commercial use in addition to agriculture and ranching.