Readers Question: Should we worry about water running out?
In a way, water is a renewable resource. From a global perspective, water is almost infinite in supply. However, there can be serious water shortages in local areas. This is becoming an increasing problem due to population growth, climate change and rapid economic growth.
Also, it is not just water, but, clean drinking water that is important.
In theory, if demand rises faster than supply, then the market price of water should rise and this will ration demand. This increase in the price of water should encourage local areas to ship water in or invest in desalination plants.
However, the market may not be able to respond to water shortages satisfactorily.
Water is an essential commodity for life. People expect to be able to consume water for free. However, the marginal cost of supplying extra water can be quite high. For political or social reasons governments may be reluctant to charge a market price for water to ration demand. However, this probably will need to change.
Water shortages are not easy to predict. With oil, the supply is fairly constant. If we run out, we at least can plan for it. However, water shortages have a habit of being unexpected. E.g. the draught in Spain and Australia was more severe than for a long time. In other words, the market mechanism will respond too late. You need to invest in more water supplies a long time before having a drought period.
Demand continues to grow.
- The world’s population continues to rise, causing higher demand.
- Global warming is causing increased demand for water for agriculture.
- Economic growth also requires higher demand for water. People in rich countries use 10 times more water than poor countries.
- Yet, the supply of drinking water is struggling to keep up.
“Two-fifths of the world’s people already face serious shortages, and water-borne diseases fill half its hospital beds.” – Why World’s taps are running dry at BBC
World is running out of water – UN report
This is only part of the answer. There is no reason why the world cannot find a solution to water shortages. But, it is a problem which certainly requires intelligent intervention.
Related
of course water is running out but what has already run out are new ways to view&resolve the problem. too much talk about water as a right and not enough as to how to insure you don’t die of thirst –of course pricing will play the key role whatever the could’a, would’a, should’a of the situation (bottled water has already established that if nothing else.) moving ‘pipelines’ vs bottles is the next step and it will only be available to those paying for the priviledge –sounds cruel even but read ‘our’ lips, there’s no way out otherwise.