Is there Really a Global Water Crisis?
I’ve written about “Last Call at the Oasis”, a film with Erin Brockovich about the global water crisis. Now I have two questions for you. But first, a little more about the film.
From Last Call at the Oasis, some interesting concepts emerged, such as:
- There are more than 80,000 chemicals used in the USA, some of which end up in our water supply (like the real-life example in the film “Erin Brockovich” starring Julia Roberts). But only 5 of those chemicals are regulated under the Toxic Chemicals Control Act.
- One third of US counties face water shortages by 2050
According to the director of the film, Jessica Yu, many people in the US “tend to think of “the water crisis” as a problem for other countries. .. [but] we are not immune. We shouldn’t feel insulated just because water flows freely from our taps. But we do feel insulated, don’t we? Water problems barely register on our list of concerns”.
We perhaps assume that “someone” will come and take care of our water problems, or indeed that there isn’t a problem at all, and it’s just hype.
In one five-year period, the EPA was only able to respond to 3 percent of the half-a-million reported violations of the Clean Water Act.
Is the EPA not doing its job?
Many believe the agency is underfunded and under-supported.
Jessica Yu believes that, if there is a bad guy, it’s probably us.
Why?
She suggests:
- We don’t want to pay more for water.
- We like our green lawns.
- We worry that environmental regulation will hurt economic development.
- We’d rather shell out for bottled water than an upgraded water treatment plant.
- We find the notion of recycling waste water from drains and sewers disgusting rather than practical.
What do YOU think?
Do you think we will face a water crisis? And can individuals do anything?
Or is this film over-reacting? Will technology come up with a solution? (if there really is a problem).
(Yes, this is an eco friendly blog, but that doesn’t mean that I want to hear that there’s a water crisis. I genuinely want to know what YOU think about water – and whether it’s anything to worry about. Or whether there are far more pressing concerns, like jobs and the economy).
Next: If you’re concerned, what can you do?
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You Might Also Want to Read:
New Film with Erin Brockovich, and also Water Wars – Coming Soon to a Tap Near You?
Water Privatization – The Good, The Bad or the Ugly?
What can we do? Solutions
I think that clean water is becoming harder to obtain. Hopefully technology will find a fix because I’m not sure humanity will make the lifestyle changes necessary.
I suspect you’re right Suzanne, thanks!
Hi Green Goddess,
Having lived in both the San Francisco Bay Area with the drought of the late 1980s, then Las Vegas and Los Angeles which are both actually desert areas we deal with drinking and bathing water challenges all the time. One of the bus shelter banners around here in the LA county area reminds us that “There’s never enough water to waste.”
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
That’s so interesting! I have a vague memory of the SF drought, and then of course California battled a couple of years ago. I remember my father muttering when I was a child, we were watching a documentary on Las Vegas and he said “they can dam all they want, and pipe water all they want, but they’re still mad to build a city in the middle of a desert”.
I haven’t seen the film, but I have heard much about an impending water crisis. I haven’t investigated it much, so I can’t have a solid opinion. But from what I have read so far, it does seem like a distinct possibility.
Cherie Miranda
I think that the EPA is certainly part of the problem … Government will not be the solution. (I have worked with EPA personnel – oil spills – as a CG Officer; incredible )
Governments are rarely the solution, anywhere in the world! That’s really interesting about oil spills, thanks Lyle!
It is scary how many chemilcals are in our water and food.
True – and we probably don’t even know the half of it! Thanks Bryan!
How about the corporations that are making the chemicals do the clean up? I try to do my part by buying non-toxic green products. Even if we all do our part, chemical plants are still putting toxic waste in to the water supply.
With Passion & Conviction,
Agreed. Industrial and agricultural waste are huge pollutants. Thanks Wendy!
I don’t know that we are in a water crisis just yet but I believe that based on our current usage patterns and lack of water saving behaviors that we will be in a water crisis probably within 5-8 years.
Michael
Thanks Michael!
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I don’t know whether there is or not, but if we encounter a water shortage, I think people will over react, blow things way out of proportion, go crazy, et cetera. People are not used to their bubble bursting, and if they can’t get their water, I don’t think that people will cope readily.
Mark Hogan
I agree Mark. It could get very, very messy!
Water is in danger of becoming as valued as gold!
With more and more people in our World and changing weather patterns around the world, it is imperative that business needs to really start to become commercial about the recycling of waste water and the general way in which all other forms of water supply is handled in order to attempt to ensure a lasting supply. Individuals can only do so much, which is valuable, but the commercial aspect needs to kick in.
Absolutely Will! Whatever we do is tiny by comparison with industry and agriculture. In a later blog you’ll see that even with existing technology, industry can make massive improvements in their water consumption. But they won’t until they’re forced into it.
[…] In my previous blog I asked if my readers if they thought there was going to be a water crisis. […]
Clare,
water shortage is becoming a real psychosis. I have seen websites selling water purifiers for future disasters. They sell for hundred of $.
Yes, I’ve seen them – perhaps one day we’ll regret not buying one!
A scary scenario..reminds me of the guy that jumped from the 50th floor of his building..as he passed the 20th floor he says “ok, so far !”
Be Well.
Jc
LOL, a very apt analogy, thanks for sharing!
water is so political and $ driven – we have a friend who has a extremely practical and cost effective solution that is proven to work but continually gets buried by big business/government
How sad that a basic requirement of life can be politicised. It does seem daft that a solution is not adopted willingly.
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