Ethanol production threatens the land of 10,000 lakes

Groundwater Could Run Low Over Ethanol Production

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ― With Minnesota's ethanol production expected to more than double by 2011, there's growing concern there won't be enough groundwater to satisfy the industry's needs.

It already happened in Granite Falls, when a new ethanol plant last year depleted the groundwater so much that the plant had to start pumping water from the Minnesota River.

It takes four to five gallons of water to produce a gallon of ethanol at a biofuel plant. Minnesota has 17 ethanol plants in operation, six under construction and 10 more proposed or in the planning stages -- substantially increasing the possibility of more drains on underground water supplies.

Right now, the industry is consuming about 2 billion gallons of groundwater a year, according to state estimates. The expected doubling of the state's ethanol production would likely mean a quadrupling of the amount of water needed.

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