OVERVIEW (Chapter 1)       Return to Unit List

The world may be covered mostly by water, but because 97 percent of it is too salty to drink, water has always been a scarce resource. We depend on fresh water for use in agriculture, industry, and households. Desalinization of saltwater is still too expensive for most of the world's nations to consider using it. Around the world, rivers are increasingly dammed and diverted, and groundwater supplies are being used faster than they are naturally replenished. Although water has not been the reason for much conflict in the world so far, with dwindling resources, it could increase pre-existing regional tensions such as in Northern Africa and the Middle East. Obviously, something will have to be done to provide water for a growing, thirsty world population.

This section explores the Earth's water as an inherently geographical conundrum. The Web sites listed here look at the historical use and manipulation of water, for agriculture, power generation, industry, and other uses. In addition, they consider the role of water in conflicts and the future of water use.

Begin by reading Peter H. Gleik's "Safeguarding our water" from Scientific American

Then read about the often-overlooked relationship between conflict and water at The World's Water. See some of the historical conflicts over water at the water conflict chronology. Consider the fact that water conflicts can occur at various scales and involve many parties. In the case of dam construction in Brazil (Kayapo - Chapter 3) or China (Three Gorges - Chapter 9), these conflicts can be global, involving governments and investors from around the world.

After reading these articles, consider the following questions:

• What makes water such a potential source of conflict?
• In the case of a multinational water source, like the Nile River, who has rights to the water?
• In the case of the Nile, who should decide the ownership of water rights?
• What might be the impact of increasingly intensified agriculture on water resources?
• What water options (from the last Web site) do you think are most viable? Which ones seem least likely?
• What can you do to help create a future with water?