Exactly, and there's "outrage". Imagine if it was 100 Olympic size swimming pools... The American public can't handle the biproducts of modern manufacturing.
There are multiple "American publics". The outrage machine will not like it, you are correct, but take a drive through Nevada or West Virginia and you'll see folks used to such side effects.
True, I shouldn't make the assumption that "the public" is one thing, or another in absolute terms. However, I wouldn't call it an "outrage machine" just because people are concerned about pollution/misuse of natural resources.
Clarification: the outrage machine does exist as a phenomenon in American politics. It's real.
I agree that stewardship of the environment is very important.
How much water did Boeing use during the 747s production heyday? Trying to think of a recent US manufacturing example that was truely massive.