World Water Conflicts: Scarce Resources

Climate Change, Politics =Less Potable Water

With the World's population increasing, a never-ending increased demand for potable water, and the ecological damage to water sources, could this be the next huge oil crisis of the world? Only about 4% of the World's water is potable; with a limited supply the probability of conflict is increasing.

Common Sources of Water Conflicts

• There is an unequal access to fresh water, especially in Africa. The Middle East, India, and Pakistan.
• Regional conflicts reflect that there are 200 river systems that are shared by two or more countries.
• The privatization of water.
• Climate change will have a significant impact on the availability of fresh water.
• Current agricultural practices use too much water.

Water Wars: Coming Conflicts in the Middle East

The first recorded conflict for water happened 2500 years ago with the city-states of Lagash and Umma in the Tigris-Euphrates Basin. They went to war because Lagash diverted water from Umma. Adel Darwish, journalist and co-author of Water Wars: Coming Conflicts in the Middle East said,"I have [former Israeli prime minister] Ariel Sharon speaking on record saying the reason for going to war [against Arab armies] in 1967 was for water," Darwish told Al Jazeera.

Senegal and Mauritania fought a war starting in 1989 over grazing rights on the Senegal River. Syria and Iraq have fought small skirmishes over the Euphrates River. Turkey and Syria have had a long standing battle over water.

North American Water Conflicts

Canada and the U.S. are not immune to fresh water shortages. In the United States there are major droughts in the South-West putting a great strain on the availability of water for the population and for agriculture.

On the east coast of the U.S., the growing population and climate change are putting strains on that water system. In Canada, the oil sands in Alberta are affecting the river systems. This is especially true with the Athabasca River. Pollution, climate change, and a growing population have also affected the Fraser River Basin.

The James Bay Power Project in Quebec has strained water availability. These are relatively small problems compared to a great majority of the world, but what will happen when a majority of the world's population runs out of potable water and the have's do not wish to share with the have-nots?