What is the WEB Nexus?

Water, Energy and Biomass are each recognized to be critical resources in their own right.

What is more poorly recognized and understood is the interplay and interdependency between them. Unless and until we understand this Nexus, and develop the ability to better manage its complexity, sustainable resource management will not be possible and disaster will result.

We are making progress on the Energy front because there are alternatives that we can pursue. However, there are no alternatives to Water or Biomass, so a different approach is needed.

To achieve this we must develop a deeper understanding of the Water-Energy-Biomass Nexus – The WEB Nexus.

The Sun’s Energy, captured as Biomass can still be accessed today by combustion of that Biomass or as we prefer to call it “fossil fuels”.

This is the basis of the most fundamental Cycle of Life: In the presence of Water, the Sun provides Energy to create Biomass. Biomass is formed by assimilating nutrients to produce living organisms of all kinds. Biomass in the form of fecal waste or dead organisms decomposes to produce nutrients again. This is Nature’s “Circular Economy”.

This is also the essence of the Water-Energy-Biomass (WEB) Nexus – Water and (the Sun’s) Energy create Biomass, which is just stored Energy. Depending on the state of that biomass; coal, zooplankton, corn or corned beef, it can be utilized to produce heat, catfish, cattle, cream or human beings.

We are Biomass. What we eat is Biomass. We drink Water. We are 60% Water.

Water is the critical medium for the biochemistry of Biomass production to take place.

Water is therefore the fulcrum of the WEB Nexus.

Water quality is critical. If it reverts to primordial soup, this favors the proliferation of algae and Cyanobacteria which can produce toxins. When this happens it often means that safe drinking water cannot be produced and Water cannot be safely used for irrigation to produce the Biomass we need as food.

In other words – if Water quality isn’t maintained then nutrient recycling is diverted to promote the creation of Biomass that we don’t want rather than Biomass that we do.

And if we cannot be assured of a consistent supply of food Biomass to sustain ourselves, and potable water to drink, our own viability as Biomass is at threat.

So understanding the Water-Energy-Biomass Nexus and adapting to how it might change is our real challenge around Climate Change.

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