In 50 years in the US which will be a more valuable substance. Water or Oil?

Water. We're already looking at oil alternatives for fuel, such as E85. However, that requires irrigation, which will end up using (drum roll please) more water - which we don't have a viable alternative to.

I expect large-scale desalination to become the next "big thing" after we've got a hand on the oil crisis - which is going to boost the cost of water by a lot.

I suggest that volume for volume oil will always be a more valuable product than water.

Edited comments: It maybe that if oil becomes less used as substitutes are found that the total market for water will be greater in a monetary sense. There are already many, many more tons of water used than oil.

Water of course is a more fundamental need than oil.

Water is already the more valuable substance and always will be. Everything you do you use water for. 75% of your body is water. Oil is a resource that can be replaced. There will never be a replacement to water.

Water is the most valuable substance.....the people that said oil.....living in another world.

Without water they can`t survive a few days......and without oil.....we can substitute with another technologies.

The water is the sign of Live for the human.

Water is a necessity of life. Unfortunately, we're already experiencing severe shortages of this valuable resource in some areas of the world. More unfortunately, the time will come when "energy" companies will stop selling oil, coal and gas and start selling water. Once the demand far exceeds the supply, you can bet that multi-billion-dollar corporations will find a way to profit from it with the help of our federal government. -RKO-

I'm voting for water. With the price of oil sky-rocketing as it already is, I imagine the US will find more and more ways to lower oil consumption. I think water is going to become a limited resource and no one will be expecting it. Good question!

I would have to say that Oil would probably be more valuable, but who knows what will happen in the next fifty years.

Water. In 50 years, a different power source will be in effect.

If it is still oil in 50 years and we're using it like today--we'll probably be in a world of hurt.

Hmm, don't know what people in big cities will do about water? I'll just hike up behind my house and fill my bottles from the spring. It will still be good in 50 years, or there will be others.