This document discusses water shortages around the world and potential solutions. It notes that approximately 25% of water sources are heavily depleted. Two fundamental problems are identified: governments are reluctant to set limits on water extraction and remedies focus more on increasing supply than reducing demand. Six potential ways to fix water shortages are described: desalination, water reuse, water importation, water storage, watershed management, and water conservation. The document concludes that most people and even water professionals lack basic water literacy and understanding of key concepts, presenting an educational challenge.

1. Choose Clean Water
Conference
June 3, 2014
Staunton, Virginia

3. Colorado River
Hoover Dam
All-American Canal and
Colorado River Aqueduct
Central Arizona
Project
Flaming Gorge and Glen
Canyon Dams

4. Photo: Jonathan Waterman
Colorado River Delta, Mexico

9. Who is experiencing water shortages, and where?
What happens to people and other species when
water shortages occur?
Why do communities and countries run short of
water?
Is there some way to avoid shortages, or overcome
them once afflicted?
Chasing Water

10. Global Water Scarcity
~25% of water sources are heavily depleted
Source: “Tapped Out: How Will Cities Secure Their Water Future?
Richter and others, Water Policy Journal, 2013

11. Increasing Water Scarcity
Low Moderate Significant Severe
Minimal
impacts
Ecological
impacts
appear
Impacts to
ecosystem
services appear
Serious
economic
impacts
Full
natural
availability
20% depletion
of renewable
annual supply
Water
all gone
50%
depletion
80%
depletion

18. Two Fundamental Problems
• Governments are reluctant to set limits on
water extraction

19. Source: US Geological Survey

20. Two Fundamental Problems
• Governments are reluctant to set limits on
water extraction
• Remedies are directed at increasing supply
rather than reducing demand

21. Six Ways to Fix a Water Shortage
• Desalination
• Water reuse
• Water importation
• Water storage
• Watershed management
• Water conservation
Cost

24. We Live in a Water-Illiterate World
Nearly 80% of Americans have no idea where their
water comes from
Far fewer know what a “watershed” or “aquifer” is
Most water professionals do not understand the
difference between “water withdrawal” and
“consumptive use” (do you?)
If we have any hope of empowering citizens to play
a more active role in water planning and decision-
making, we face a huge educational challenge

25. UVA video

28. Available from
Island Press
June 2014