Guidebook Examines Global Water Issues

It is easy to believe there will one day be wars or political struggles over water in the Middle East or Africa, or even in the American southwest, but Georgia? Scarcity and resource issues can impact just about any part of the world where water flows across borders, according to authors in a new publication on global water issues compiled by ITT Industries.

The company's "Guidebook to Global Water Issues" consists of a series of articles written by environmental journalists, scientists, water experts and economists. It includes a forward by Paul Simon, former U.S. Senator and author of "Tapped Out," a review of world water problems.

While the various authors view water issues from different perspectives, the overall theme is clear: the earth's water resources can no longer be taken for granted.

One-fifth of the world's population does not have access to safe drinking water and half of all people have poor water sanitation, wrote Travis Engen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ITT, in the book's introduction.

"And the situation will worsen," he wrote. "By 2025, the global population is projected to increase to 8.3 billion from 5.7 billion in 1995. As our population grows, so does our water consumption - we have already seen increases during the past 95 years that were twice as fast as population growth.

"Industrial water use is also projected to double by 2025, and without action to clean and recycle this resource, water wastage could quadruple. As a result, two-thirds of the world's population could face water shortages and/or pollution of its drinking water."

The book includes a U.S. overview, with "spot reports" from around the country, including the debate over water resources among Georgia, Alabama and Florida. California, Arizona and the Tampa Bay region are also highlighted, among others. The World report includes articles examining hot-spots such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and Bangladesh.

A series of articles also discuss water management, the potential for water wars, the rising tide of water markets, the trading of water rights, privatization and the "new" water economics.

"It is time for the world's political, scientific and business leaders not only to take notice of this pending catastrophe, but to stand up and take action," Engen wrote. "These leaders must begin to regard water as a limited resource and a saleable commodity to ensure its future.

"Global leaders should ponder whether water, in its scarcity, will become a point of contention. Perhaps, when the United nations recently identified 100 areas where water-related friction has already become an issue, it foresaw a water crisis that could some day parallel the historical hostilities over oil in the Middle East. If we fail to change now, future generations will surfer the terrible consequences of our waste and folly."

ITT plans to post the guidebook on the Internet and will grow the publication with additional writings from water experts, politicians, journalists and others around the world.

"We think the global perspective is critical," a spokesman for the company said. "As this book demonstrates, water is not just a local or regional problem. It is global and calls for solutions on a global scale."