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Planet is running out of clean water
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by World_Groove | September 19, 2008 at 09:10 am
1017 views | 57 Recommendations | 11 comments
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With World Water Monitoring Day on our minds, it's time to start reading up on the most basic need of life.
One sixth of the world's population does not have access to clean drinking water. More than 2 million people, most of them children, die each year from water-borne diseases.
People in India, where millions don't have access to clean drinking water, fill buckets from a supply pipeline.
Water-related problems aren't restricted to the developing world. A harmful pesticide, banned by many European countries, remains widely used in the United States, where it runs into rivers and streams.
And one expert estimates California's water supply will run out in 20 years.
These sobering statistics come from "FLOW," a new documentary film about the world's dwindling water supply. The filmmakers and their sources argue a combination of factors, including drought and skyrocketing demand, have created a looming global crisis that threatens the long-term survival of the human race.
you can read a little more on Flow at the Deconstructing Sundance web site.
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Recommendations (57)
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at 09:18 on September 19th, 2008
Good story! I was just watching something on our local news last week about the possibility that our clean drinking water supply here in Canada may become fully privatized within the next few years, because there are no government policies to ensure that our water filtration systems and distribution supply will be fully controlled by government, and certain American companies are working hard to lobby our provincial governments to allow them to "Manage" our water systems -- saying that they have a proven track record in management! Water should not be managed by any Private Interests whatsoever ... and so this is worrying news!! We do have some local environmental groups however, that are working hard to try and stop this from coming to fruition! (*Since our PM is very close to American interests and Corporate interests it makes sense that he has done nothing to ensure our 'ownership' of our water!)
at 09:46 on September 19th, 2008
World_Groove, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Great job and thanks for the shout out! :)
at 10:12 on September 19th, 2008
World_Groove, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 10:34 on September 19th, 2008
Thanks to the World Bank stealing Bolivia's rainwater, it's hinted that WW3 will be over water, not oil or food shortages (caused by biofuels, so still oil).
at 12:59 on September 19th, 2008
http://www.multipureco.com/online_order.htm
These are the best filters. I have used them since 1987. they were the only CA approved filters.
at 16:01 on September 19th, 2008
World_Groove, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 17:50 on September 19th, 2008
World_Groove, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 19:06 on September 19th, 2008
The most well-known and important groundwater source in Australia is the Great Artesian Basin. This is a vast groundwater source that underlies 22 per cent of Australia – extending beneath the arid and semi-arid regions of Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales. It covers about 1.7 million square kilometres, and contains an estimated 8700 million megalitres of water. Not surprisingly, it's one of the largest artesian water basins in the world.
The water is coming from a depth of up to 3 kilometres, and some of the water is believed to be up to two million years old. The average water temperature is between 30 and 50 degrees, but it can be as hot as 100 degrees Celsius.
The Great Artesian Basin has always been an important source of water for many Outback communities. Unfortunately, much of the water that is extracted is also wasted. It is estimated that up to 80 per cent of the total outflow from the Great Artesian Basin is wasted.
Garry Schlatter has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:14 on September 20th, 2008
With the world's population increasing at a near exponential rate it's time we all woke up and realised we can't go on squeezing more and more from the Earth's very finite resources.
There are already too many people: water, energy and food shortages are an inevitable result.
Religions and cultures which ban contraception and encourage large families have a lot to answer for!!
eyesore9 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 01:08 on September 20th, 2008
The European Commission funded project WASSER (Water and Sanitation for Settlements in Eastern Sri Lanka) trains local residents in well drilling and rainwater harvesting techniques. Those units are then built preferably in public places.
The kindergarden in this picture had no clean drinking water after the tsunami, as the well was contaminated by pollutants brought through the waves. The rainwater harvesting tank now built offers the kids clean water for washing and drinking
springm has contributed a photo to this story.
at 18:50 on September 20th, 2008
World_Groove, I like this story. It's good stuff. I really like the story, but I only drink bottled water that is triple distilled and added minerals back. I thought all water was "dirty"