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> For water specifically - it is generally speaking the most valuable resource available, we just don't appreciate it because we happen to have a lot of it.

And for water specifically, the second order effects from "water saving" programs can be actually negative. Not enough water means that sewers don't work properly any more, leading from events of stink to helping fatbergs grow [1].

To make it worse, the "obvious" idea of scaling down sewer mains doesn't work either because the sewers are (at least in Europe) also used as storm drains, so if you'd scale down the sewers you'd get streets flooded.

[1] https://www.wiwo.de/technologie/blockierte-kanalisation-die-...



Also, water is not readibly fungible as it’s not generally economic to ship large distances. So either you have it, or you dont.

If you do have it, often you have more than you can store or use effectively (the rest just runs off).

If you have a lot of water, then going to a bunch of effort saving it is indeed silly.

If you don’t have a lot of water, then it is indeed essential.




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