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Clean Water Shortages Shortages of safe water a growing global problem About 1.1 billion people worldwide can't get clean drinking water and 2.4 billion lack access to basic sanitation, the International Herald Tribune reports in a series on the looming global problem of freshwater scarcity. The U.N. wants to halve these numbers by 2015, but current progress suggests that target won't be met -- it would effectively mean hooking up more than 100,000 people to clean water sources every day for the next 10 years. In much of the world, centralized irrigation and municipal water sources have taken the place of older water-management methods, but they're also putting more stress on the supply. The paradox, say experts, is that improving water quality and provision increases development, which puts further strain on freshwater supply. Make water cheap and abundant and people waste it; make it expensive and difficult to obtain and people die. The proper balance is tough to strike. Gulp. straight to the source: International Herald Tribune, Sam Nortey Jr., 20 Aug 2005
From: Grist Magazine: Environmental News and Commentary
 ©2005. Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Gloom and doom with a sense of humor®. Grist Magazine, 811 First Avenue, Suite 466, Seattle, WA 98104 USA Phone 206.876.2020 | Fax 253.423.6487 | grist@grist.org Add This Entry To Your CureZone Favorites! Print this pageEmail this page  Alert Webmaster
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