Radical overhaul seen as solution to water

Arwen Hernandez

Sociology 202-02

September 1, 2006

Current Event 3-Urbanization


Summary


An international conference was held in Stockholm this


week to address the resolution of the global water crisis.


Some suggestions included cutting the amount of water that


is used to grow food, teaching farmers how to better


utilize rain water, and nations need to make use of


brackish, partially treated waste water, and fully treated


sewage. Water problems are generally automatically assumed


to be taking place in developing countries. However, as


Jamie Pittock puts it, “economic riches don’t translate


into plentiful water.”


Response


Urbanization is causing a water shortage all over the


world. No one seems to be immune. Some of the proposed


solutions make perfect sense. Though, I am not so


convinced that cutting agriculture water in half is very


probable. You automatically think of poor countries in


relation to water crisis, but keep in mind that major


cities (ex. Baltimore) and their surrounding suburbs are


more often that not put on water restriction during the


summer. I doubt that the populations in the effected areas


fully grasp the implications of a shortage of water. They


are just mad that they can’t water their lawns. Another


consequence of urbanization to your larger cities is their


ability to consume more water than can be replenished by


nature.




Harvey, Fiona. “Radical overhaul seen as solution to water


crisis.” London Edition 1 (2006): 6 pg. 24 August


2006.


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