Aqua Shock

The Water Crisis in America

Bloomberg Press, 2009

15 min read

10 take-aways

Audio & text

What's inside?

Water is precious. Stop wasting it, and learn how to conserve it.

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Editorial Rating

Qualities

Comprehensive
Analytical
Eye Opening

Recommendation

While water may seem to be a simple substance, the United States and the rest of the world face a dangerous water crisis due to a complex culmination of events. Journalist Susan J. Marks uses a deft writing style that glides from anecdotal reports to studies of the scientific and environmental dimensions of water scarcity, as well as the implications for national security. Unfortunately, in some places, a staccato of bullet-point factoids prevent the story from developing powerful momentum. getAbstract recommends this detailed presentation of water problems and possible solutions to readers who seek a thorough factual introduction to this vital subject.

Summary

Liquid Gold

People take water for granted, but it is a diminishing resource. Water occupies 70% of the earth’s surface, but less than 1% of it is readily available freshwater. Population growth, increased consumption due to growing affluence, greater pollution and climate change strain the supply of safe drinking water. The quantity of water on earth is constant. But just as its form varies from vapor and rain to snow and ice, water’s quality and accessibility also are subject to change, and some of the shifts are very dramatic.

In the United States, water scarcity is a national issue even beyond the arid western states. At least 36 states expect to declare water shortages by 2013, according to the U.S. General Accounting Office. In fact, the problem is global in scope. The World Bank has reported that in Latin America alone, 76 million people have inadequate supplies of safe water. The United Nations estimates that up to one billion people worldwide lack access to drinkable water.

Meteorological and Manmade Impacts

A 2009 global weather study found that warmer water and higher air temperatures lead to downpours, and raise sea levels by melting both...

About the Author

Susan J. Marks, a former Denver Post reporter, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years experience. She has written or collaborated on more than a dozen books on consumer issues. Her work has appeared in such publications as BusinessWeek, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes and Woman’s World.

Susan J. Marks

Aqua Shock

The Water Crisis in America

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