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Removing nutrients from tertiary sewage treament water is done in two ways: the water is provided or sold for lawn irrigation (signs required; flows in purple pipes) or a large pond area is provided where water plants consume the nutrients. An example is the pond north of Christmas, Florida where the Iron Bridge Treatment Plant dumps the water prior to entering the Econ River. The park is a favored birdwatching area. You can find that in area maps. Frank -----Original Message----- From: Bioenergy and Sustainable Technology Society [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of MARTIN,ELIZABETH J Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 1:19 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Question about Biofuels overall effects To anyone willing to address my question: I was wondering if someone would mind directing me to some information regarding the pros and cons of biofuel vs. petroleum in terms of land use and water consumption. While I fully agree that there is a dire need to reduce reliance on petroleum and other non-renewable resources, I am concerned as to how it balances out on the other end of the spectrum. Currently over 1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, resulting in millions deaths every year due to unsafe and unsanitary water conditions. The main problem is the agricultural techniques used to produce crops such as corn, wheat, soybeans, etc. The largest problem is the net loss of water and the destruction of land due to irrigation. From what I?ve been reading, it appears that the main alternatives to petroleum lie in the use of these organic materials as potential fuels. So my main point is this, even if biofuels replace petroleum and reduce green house gases and air pollution, won?t the result be an even bigger problem due to water scarcity? I understand that no one can know if this will even be a problem, but I can?t help but wondering if biofuels are the answer, or if they are a catch 22. I also have a slight problem with the burning of natural and human wastes. While this does eliminate the growing problem of landfills and the release of methane gas into the atmosphere, isn?t it still slightly retroactive because combustion of any material releases carbon dioxide? I'm terribly sorry if these questions seem ridiculous or completely off base, but I'm having trouble finding answers. Incase anyone was wondering where I got my information on water scarcity: www.blueplanetproject.net There is also a very informative article available at: http://www.qmw.ac.uk/~ugte133/courses/environs/cuttings/water/ Click running.pdf Thanks. Liz -- MARTIN,ELIZABETH J