Key to global water crisis is management
To achieve this will require political will, public awareness that water is a critically important resource and that users must pay for it.
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ON World Environment Day, June 5, it is worthwhile reflecting on a major crisis that is now confronting the world, but receiving inadequate attention. If current trends continue, the world will face a water crisis that will be unprecedented in human history.
During the past decade, there has been extensive discussions on the adequacy of physical availability of water to meet the escalating needs for various uses for an expanding global population and accelerating economic activities. However, inadequate attention has been paid to the rapid deterioration of water quality, which is further reducing a significant stock of water which can no longer be used without expensive and sophisticated treatment.
Water, unlike oil or minerals, is a renewable resource. This means it can be used, treated properly and then reused. This cycle with good management can continue indefinitely. It has been estimated that each drop of the Colorado River water is used seven times. With good management, there is no reason why this could not be increased to 20 or 30 times. The overwhelming concern is that the world is going to run out of physical availability of water in the foreseeable future. We differ.
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