Running Dry: The Global Water Crisis (nonfiction - Young Adult)
by Stuart A. Kallen /
2015 / English / PDF
5.8 MB Download
As the planet's human population explodes, so does the demand for
water. About one out of every nine people in the world does not
have access to safe drinking water, while one out of every
five—almost 1.5 billion humans—lives in a region where water demand
is outstripping supply. But as demand grows, supplies do not.
Climate change has led to severe drought, flooding, and massive
storms in key agricultural areas of the world. Industrial and
agricultural water pollution threatens public health around the
world. Environmental protection measures are not keeping up with
energy-production technologies such as fracking and the
corn-for-fuel market, all of which affect water usage rates and
safety.
As the planet's human population explodes, so does the demand for
water. About one out of every nine people in the world does not
have access to safe drinking water, while one out of every
five—almost 1.5 billion humans—lives in a region where water demand
is outstripping supply. But as demand grows, supplies do not.
Climate change has led to severe drought, flooding, and massive
storms in key agricultural areas of the world. Industrial and
agricultural water pollution threatens public health around the
world. Environmental protection measures are not keeping up with
energy-production technologies such as fracking and the
corn-for-fuel market, all of which affect water usage rates and
safety.
Both developed and undeveloped areas of the world face challenges
with water-delivery infrastructure. For example, undeveloped
nations lack even the most basic water-delivery systems. Millions
of global citizens are without sanitation altogether, polluting
waterways with raw sewage. In the developed world, water-delivery
infrastructures are aging and wasteful. Domestic and industrial
overconsumption of water resources draws down supply capacity,
depleting Earth's freshwater resources at an alarming rate. And, in
the last few decades, private corporations have begun to take over
municipal water delivery, buying the rights to freshwater supplies
and selling bottled water, all for large profits. As the cost of
clean water rises, many people can’t afford the water they need for
everyday use.
Both developed and undeveloped areas of the world face challenges
with water-delivery infrastructure. For example, undeveloped
nations lack even the most basic water-delivery systems. Millions
of global citizens are without sanitation altogether, polluting
waterways with raw sewage. In the developed world, water-delivery
infrastructures are aging and wasteful. Domestic and industrial
overconsumption of water resources draws down supply capacity,
depleting Earth's freshwater resources at an alarming rate. And, in
the last few decades, private corporations have begun to take over
municipal water delivery, buying the rights to freshwater supplies
and selling bottled water, all for large profits. As the cost of
clean water rises, many people can’t afford the water they need for
everyday use.
Competition for clean water is increasing, and the stakes couldn't
be higher.
Competition for clean water is increasing, and the stakes couldn't
be higher.Running Dry
Running Dry investigates some tough questions.
In a crowded world with limited water supplies, will we be able to
deliver safe, clean water to an increasingly thirsty world? Can
governments, businesses, and individuals work together to clean up
and protect Earth's water resources? Are water conservation
strategies enough to ensure a water-rich future? Or will we run
dry?
investigates some tough questions.
In a crowded world with limited water supplies, will we be able to
deliver safe, clean water to an increasingly thirsty world? Can
governments, businesses, and individuals work together to clean up
and protect Earth's water resources? Are water conservation
strategies enough to ensure a water-rich future? Or will we run
dry?