The myth of a global water shortage

One of the oddest arguments around at present is that we are facing a global water shortage. Michael Specter recently expressed this view in the 23 October issue of the venerable New Yorker. Although the article is not available on the website an online interview with him can be found there.

Given there is so much water in the world it is hard to see how there can be a shortage. Desalination makes it possible to draw on the world’s vast reserves of sea water to convert into fresh water. In any case, water is a highly recyclable resource. Water that is used in some way, perhaps in agriculture or industry, finds its way back into the environment.