Water Shortages Incite Conflict & Action

Conserving Water is No Longer Optional

"Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink" is a well-worn paraphrase from a Coleridge poem, but nevertheless it bears repeating. In fact, it may soon feature in headlines around the globe as news stories about dwindling fresh water supplies are becoming all too common. Crowded cities face critical shortages due to high consumption and waste, pollution and deforestation. Industry, agriculture, even our daily showers drain our reservoirs. If present trends continue, we may all end up as thirsty as the Ancient Mariner.

Imagine no water aboard a ship in a sea of salt water, or being thirsty in the desert knowing that relief flows in an aquifer beneath your feet. Solutions to your predicament escape you; dehydration dulls the mind. So too can an abundance of water; as long as taps keep flowing complacency sets in, and we assume the hydrological cycle is an enormous global process that will endlessly refresh our drinking supplies. The planet is largely covered by water, so it seems inconceivable that we should ever run out. But most of that water is unusable, so that more than one out of every six people lack access to safe drinking water (over a billion people, according to the World Health Organization).

Escalating Conflict Over Water

When something essential to life becomes scarce then people tend to panic and often end up fighting. Thus we find that, especially in places like China, India, Israel and Egypt, conflict over water is increasing.

Even where there are still large, healthy lakes and rivers, the sheer politics and logistics of capturing and moving water around can become a great strain on a society. Municipal water and sewage taxes keep rising, water reservoirs are being encroached upon by urban development, and the flooding and drought associated with global warming compounds the problem. It is true that technology may yet provide solutions to the looming water crisis. Nevertheless, the classic reduce, re-use and recycle mantra gains credence everyday as we continue to realize how we all share the same basic needs and interests regarding our water resources.

A Few Solutions

There is plenty of on-line information available on ways to conserve water. Re-using grey water, fixing leaks and avoiding wasteful practices are typically at the top any list of recommendations.

In addition to lower water bills, there are other financial incentives for home-owners to reduce water consumption. The Government of Canada Eco-Action Program provides, as an example, rebates of $65 for the replacement of older toilets with newer, low-flush models.

Participating in the public debate over water use also helps because, by letting our politicians and legislators and others know that we support efforts towards water conservation, they are more likely to defend our long terms interests.