Preface

Water is a fundamental necessity for sustaining life on Earth. Every species on the planet depends on it for survival, from those that live in it to those that dwell in the desert. Water should be a renewable resource, continually falling from the sky and evaporating into the air. Its importance in our lives is immeasurable. We drink it, bathe in it, cook with it, grow crops with it, play in it, and, in some cases, are born in it. Indeed, 60 percent of the average adult human body is composed of water. Given its central place in human life, water is not surprisingly viewed as sacred in many cultures, both past and present.

In the industrialized world, however, this precious resource is too often taken for granted. We remain blissfully unaware of how much water is required to grow our food or make our clothes. Accustomed to water on demand, we take advantage, often using more than we need. We are also not conscious of developing countries, where many people have little or no access to clean, drinkable water.

This volume of the Reference Shelf series explores the global water supply and related issues. It is divided into five chapters, the first of which provides a broad overview of conditions throughout the globe. Even though water covers 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, 98 percent of it is salt water and thus unfit for human consumption. Of the two percent that is, three quarters are beyond use, frozen in ice caps and glaciers. The remaining freshwater is found in streams, lakes, ponds, rivers, groundwater, springs, and wetlands throughout the world.

Global water supply and demand is grossly unbalanced. An estimated 3.5 billion people have piped water in their homes, while 1.5 billion people have access to freshwater through springs, wells, and other means. That leaves about a billion people without access to clean water. In the United States and Canada, a person consumes an average of 150 gallons of water per day, while citizens in the United Kingdom use about 50 gallons per day. In the developing world, two-thirds of the people use less than 13 gallons per day.

Selections in the second chapter, “Water Wars,” explore conflicts among nations, corporations, and ideologies over how water is distributed. That countries that share dwindling freshwater resources would come into conflict is not particularly surprising. However, as the entries in this section demonstrate, water conflicts are rarely so simple, often pitting countryman against countryman and one compelling interest against another.

Through an examination of a massive oil spill in Brooklyn, New York, and other mishaps, the articles in the third section, “Water Pollution,” highlight the worldwide toll unsafe drinking water conditions has exacted.

As a growing population continues to strain water resources worldwide, many expect climate change to further erode global water security. Increased drought, floods, desertification, and other challenges are among the likely side effects of global warming, as entries in the fourth chapter reveal.

Efficient water management is key to any successful society. Effective distribution and purification systems are essential in ensuring a healthy populace. The articles in the fifth chapter, “Water Management,” explore various strategies for accessing and distributing water. Among the other methods analyzed are the treatment of sewer and stormwater so that they are safe for consumption.

Though this book addresses many of the issues relating to the world’s water supply, it is by no means meant to be definitive. Consequently, included in the Bibliography section are lists of helpful books, Web sites, and abstracts of additional articles.

In conclusion, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Paul McCaffrey and Christopher Mari for their helpful insights. I would also like to thank the many publishers and writers who kindly granted permission to republish their work.

Richard Joseph Stein
April 2008