Water Shortages Due Worldwide

A report to be delivered in April to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development will sound major alarms about dwindling water resources across the planet. In June, these alarms will also be heard at a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly during its studies of progress that has been made since 1992's Earth Summit meeting in Brazil.

Presently, says the report, 80 nations with 40% of the world's population, are already suffering severe water shortages. The new report states that 1.2 billion poor people presently face what it calls "medium high to high water stress." Medium stress indicates that nations may be using between 20% and 40% of their usable fresh water supplies for domestic, industrial or agricultural purposes. Only a 20% usage is considered what is needed to prevent mass catastrophes.

Unless the increased pollution of lakes and rivers is quickly halted, citizens will find, barely a quarter century from now, two-thirds of the world's population suffering extreme dehydration, famine, and death. In that year, mushrooming populations--especially in "third world" countries, is expected to reach 8.3 billion.

The report is titled "Comprehensive Assessment of the Freshwater Resources of the World." It says that water usage has more than doubled in growing populations during the 20th century, and that presently one out of every five persons has no access to safe drinking supplies. More than half of the world's population lives with inadequate sanitation.

World-traveler and syndicated columnist, Anthony Lewis, writes of Mexico that there are 20 million in its capital city alone, many of whom live "in appalling conditions." Half of the country's people live without sewers, he writes, and a quarter without safe water. "Rational self-interest," he says, "not just humane concern should make the rich countries do all they can to prevent overpopulation."

Not only are water shortages putting a strain on the economic and social development in a number of nations, but these shortages are likely to spill over into conflicts between countries seeking usable supplies.

Water for agricultural purposes accounts for up to 70% of water usage. With populations expanding at unacceptable rates, there will be even greater need for water to stimulate food growth. The new study argues that water must now be regarded as a commercial property, and that markets must begin to set prices to meet supplies and demands.

As populations rise during the next 30 years, it warns, the value of water will also rise, which will mean massive cost increases in food, especially meat. If the issues of pollution and overpopulation continue to remain on back burners, major dislocations will occur during the next century, portending wars and mass starvation.