Energy and water are intricately connected. All sources of energy (including electricity) require water in their production processes: the extraction of raw materials, cooling in thermal processes, in cleaning processes, cultivation of crops for biofuels, and powering turbines. Energy is itself required to make water resources available for human use and consumption (including irrigation) through pumping, transportation, treatment, and desalination.

Society’s acumen on the conjoined management of water and energy resources has developed over time. The relationship, as defined today, stands as simple as the energy intensity in the water sector to water intensity in the energy sector. It is the amount of water needed directly or indirectly for exploration, extraction, generation and transmission of energy, and the amount of energy needed for extraction, transportation, distribution, collection, treatment and end use of water. The energy and water nexus was coined as a focused area of study under the entire nexus to develop an understanding of the interdependencies and complications of water and energy alone. The water for energy and energy for water dependencies revolve around many elemental issues ranging from water management systems and water infrastructure to sustainable energy and efficient systems. An integrated development of the energy and water policies is of paramount importance and not in isolation from each other. With high risks that the energy sector is now exposed to, the importance of including water in its strategic plan is more essential than ever before.

According to World Energy Council, water is needed throughout the energy sector. It is used in energy production and conversion, as well as in other processes, such as the refining of energy source products. The water requirements for producing different primary energy carriers vary; there are significant differences between different types of electricity generation. However, fresh water is required for each step—energy extraction and production, refining and processing, transportation and storage and electric power generation itself. Modern energy supplies have been harnessed to pump water from increasing deeper groundwater reserves and to divert whole rivers large distances.

With global population and global economic growth set to continue, and a significant proportion of the current human population lacking access to clean water supply and sewerage services, the ‘energy for water’ challenge has become a significant, global scale concern. Although oil presently accounts for as much as 34% of the global primary production, and decreasing to 22% by 2050, it accounts for only 10% of water consumption in primary energy production now, rising to 18% in 2050. This is mainly due to the increasing share of nonconventional oil in total oil production, from 1% now to 12% in 2050 and its higher water consumption.

While oil production over the next 40 years will rise rather slowly, natural gas production worldwide will almost double, with the biggest increases in Asia, mainly in the Middle East, where it will almost triple and North America, where it will double. Energy from coal production is presently below oil, but will likely become higher over the next 30-40 years.

Mining and refining coal, where refining includes washing and beneficiation, requires water at various stages as well. Estimates show that approximately 0.164 m³ of water is needed per GJ.

Overall the production of coal accounts for about 1% of total water consumption in energy production.

Uranium production presently accounts for approximately 6% of worldwide primary energy production and will rise to 9% over the next 40 years, with the main producers being in Asia, Europe and North America. Africa and South America account for only 1% of the global uranium production. Mining, milling as well as the conversion and processing of uranium requires less water per energy unit than anything else. It is estimated that approximately 0.086 m³ of water is needed per GJ. Overall the production of uranium accounts for less than 0.2% of total water consumption in energy production.

Today almost 90% of freshwater used to produce primary energy is for the production of biomass, which accounts for not even 10% of total primary energy production. This relationship will change over time. In 40 years, the share of freshwater used to produce biomass will decrease to less than 80%, while at the same time the share of biomass in the total primary energy production will diminish to less than 5%.

Water consumption to generate electricity will more than double over the next 40 years. Whereas today, electricity generation per capita is on average 2.9 MWh/capita annually, ranging from 0.6 MWh/capita in Africa to 12.0 MWh/capita in North America, in 2050 the annual electricity generation per capita will almost double to an average of 5.7 MWh/capita, ranging from 2.0 MWh/capita in Africa to 17.3 MWh/capita in North America. The highest increases will occur in Latin America, where electricity generation per capita will be four times higher than today, followed by Africa and Asia, where it will almost triple. In Europe electricity generation per capita will presumably double, whereas in North America it will increase by only 50%. Although worldwide electricity generation per capita will almost double, the amount of water consumed to generate electricity is due to expected technology improvements and shifts, likely to stay at the same level or increase only slightly on a per capita basis in Africa, Europe and North America, whereas in Asia and Latin America water consumption to generate electricity will almost double on a per capita basis.

No doubt - Water resource is more important than energy demand.

Adapting renewable energy systems will solve the energy demand and also saves water resource.

The connection between energy and water is rather complex due to interdependency of these two resources. Producing energy requires water and treatment of water again to meet various demands requires energy.

Balancing this cycle in a neutral way (minimizing bias towards either water or energy) perhaps is the best way to ensure a more sustainable environment.

The conventional power plants requires vast resource of water. To reduce dependency on the nearby water bodies which also is the source of water to local community, several rain catchment areas can be created to store seasonal rain to meet either of the requirement.

For coastal areas, more dependency on sea water is to be established. Reverse osmosis units run by solar power can be a good solution to meet the water requirement.

The effort of utilizing more and more of rain water needs to harvested at the community level to storing water at the rooftop tank to meet daily requirement.

The problem actually is more severe in the desert/scarce rain fall/ground water scarce area where natural resources of water is alarmingly less. Like long run oil pipelines, these areas perhaps would require transportation of potable water from nearby state.

The problem is far more complex than it actually seems with possible impact of natural ecosystem by the each of every measure taken to resolve the issue, nonetheless a foresight of balancing supply and demand in a more sustainable manner would help to reduce the pace of proliferation of the problem.

Yes.

Both are important. But I think that instead of word "water" we should use the word "Usable/ Drinkable" water. Otherwise there is too much sea water, which can be converted to usable water at the cost of energy.

I accept all the things which entered earlier; we may produce electricity with water but we did not find a solution to produce or to promote freshwater resources. It is based on the location[spatial] since most of the areas have adequate facilities ex freshwater/energy whereas some part of the world doesn't even see the electricity;

the whole thing which is directly depends on spatial variations and the meteorological factors persist over an landmass.

there is no life without water [freshwater].

Water and energy are closely related; together they are used by humans as main elements to satisfy their basic needs. Energy generation requires water as well as water treatment and distribution requires energy. They both are critically important.

1. Water requires energy and energy requires water

Water is required to produce nearly all forms of energy. Energy is needed at all stages of water extraction, treatment and distribution.

For more see:

http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/about-world-water-day/key-messages/en/

I totally agree with Nebi Caka. In Brazil, for instance 2014 data show that 78.8% of energy come from hydroelectric and 11.9% come from conventional thermal (that also demands water). It's a gordian knot, IMHO.

Energy and water are intricately connected. All sources of energy (including electricity) require water in their production processes: the extraction of raw materials, cooling in thermal processes, in cleaning processes, cultivation of crops for biofuels, and powering turbines. Energy is itself required to make water resources available for human use and consumption (including irrigation) through pumping, transportation, treatment, and desalination.

Society’s acumen on the conjoined management of water and energy resources has developed over time. The relationship, as defined today, stands as simple as the energy intensity in the water sector to water intensity in the energy sector. It is the amount of water needed directly or indirectly for exploration, extraction, generation and transmission of energy, and the amount of energy needed for extraction, transportation, distribution, collection, treatment and end use of water. The energy and water nexus was coined as a focused area of study under the entire nexus to develop an understanding of the interdependencies and complications of water and energy alone. The water for energy and energy for water dependencies revolve around many elemental issues ranging from water management systems and water infrastructure to sustainable energy and efficient systems. An integrated development of the energy and water policies is of paramount importance and not in isolation from each other. With high risks that the energy sector is now exposed to, the importance of including water in its strategic plan is more essential than ever before.

According to World Energy Council, water is needed throughout the energy sector. It is used in energy production and conversion, as well as in other processes, such as the refining of energy source products. The water requirements for producing different primary energy carriers vary; there are significant differences between different types of electricity generation. However, fresh water is required for each step—energy extraction and production, refining and processing, transportation and storage and electric power generation itself. Modern energy supplies have been harnessed to pump water from increasing deeper groundwater reserves and to divert whole rivers large distances.

With global population and global economic growth set to continue, and a significant proportion of the current human population lacking access to clean water supply and sewerage services, the ‘energy for water’ challenge has become a significant, global scale concern. Although oil presently accounts for as much as 34% of the global primary production, and decreasing to 22% by 2050, it accounts for only 10% of water consumption in primary energy production now, rising to 18% in 2050. This is mainly due to the increasing share of nonconventional oil in total oil production, from 1% now to 12% in 2050 and its higher water consumption.

While oil production over the next 40 years will rise rather slowly, natural gas production worldwide will almost double, with the biggest increases in Asia, mainly in the Middle East, where it will almost triple and North America, where it will double. Energy from coal production is presently below oil, but will likely become higher over the next 30-40 years.

Mining and refining coal, where refining includes washing and beneficiation, requires water at various stages as well. Estimates show that approximately 0.164 m³ of water is needed per GJ.

Overall the production of coal accounts for about 1% of total water consumption in energy production.

Uranium production presently accounts for approximately 6% of worldwide primary energy production and will rise to 9% over the next 40 years, with the main producers being in Asia, Europe and North America. Africa and South America account for only 1% of the global uranium production. Mining, milling as well as the conversion and processing of uranium requires less water per energy unit than anything else. It is estimated that approximately 0.086 m³ of water is needed per GJ. Overall the production of uranium accounts for less than 0.2% of total water consumption in energy production.

Today almost 90% of freshwater used to produce primary energy is for the production of biomass, which accounts for not even 10% of total primary energy production. This relationship will change over time. In 40 years, the share of freshwater used to produce biomass will decrease to less than 80%, while at the same time the share of biomass in the total primary energy production will diminish to less than 5%.

Water consumption to generate electricity will more than double over the next 40 years. Whereas today, electricity generation per capita is on average 2.9 MWh/capita annually, ranging from 0.6 MWh/capita in Africa to 12.0 MWh/capita in North America, in 2050 the annual electricity generation per capita will almost double to an average of 5.7 MWh/capita, ranging from 2.0 MWh/capita in Africa to 17.3 MWh/capita in North America. The highest increases will occur in Latin America, where electricity generation per capita will be four times higher than today, followed by Africa and Asia, where it will almost triple. In Europe electricity generation per capita will presumably double, whereas in North America it will increase by only 50%. Although worldwide electricity generation per capita will almost double, the amount of water consumed to generate electricity is due to expected technology improvements and shifts, likely to stay at the same level or increase only slightly on a per capita basis in Africa, Europe and North America, whereas in Asia and Latin America water consumption to generate electricity will almost double on a per capita basis.

Well the world will soon be facing the scarcity of drinking water as well as energy resources. In the near future they will go together as in Saudi Arabia where most of the power plants are coupled with desalination units. Also the upcoming nuclear power plants shows promise for producing fresh water as well hydrogen to be used as fuel. We need water to stay alive and needs energy to feel alive !

5. Improving water and energy efficiency is imperative as are coordinated, coherent and concerted policies

Better understanding between the two sectors of the connections and effects on each other will improve coordination in energy and water planning, leading to reducing inefficiencies. Policy-makers, planners and practitioners can take steps to overcome the barriers that exist between their respective domains. Innovative and pragmatic national policies can lead to more efficient and cost effective provision of water and energy services.

For more see:

http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/about-world-water-day/key-messages/en/

I'm of the opinion that if one has energy in a usable form, one can have everything else - I would say Energy.

- By 2035, energy consumption will increase by 35% which will increase the energy sector's water consumption by 85%

- Hydropower supplies about 20% of the world’s electricity, a share that has remained stable since the 1990s.

- Energy requirements for surface water pumping are generally 30% lower than for groundwater pumping. It can be expected that groundwater will become increasingly energy intensive as water tables fall in several regions.

- Globally, irrigation water allocated to biofuel production is estimated at 44 km3, or 2% of all irrigation water. Under current production conditions it takes an average of roughly 2,500 litres of water (about 820 litres of it irrigation water) to produce 1 litre of liquid biofuel (the same amount needed on average to produce food for one person for one day).

Sources:

United Nations World Water Development Report 4. Volume 1: Managing Water under Uncertainty and Risk. WWAP, 2012

United Nations World Water Development Report 3. Water in a Changing World. WWAP, 2009.

World Bank’s Thirsty Energy initiative, 2014