The article “The Future of Water” reflects on a new study of the National Academy of Sciences that calculates “humanity’s water footprint.” According to the article, the war of the next century will be over water. Why is water important for life?
About 70% of the Earth is made up of water and every known form of life on the planet relies on water for survival. Water is also needed for agricultural and industrial processes. According to this article the water footprint of an average American is 2,842 cubic meters per year (one cubic meter = 1000 liters), twice the global average. Additionally, in a global economy, people often consume water resources from other parts of the world. So the next time you leave the tap water running while brushing your teeth, think about the areas around the globe where water is a scare commodity.
Water Resources Group
