Source: (Our Water Future – without Fear – Part 1 of 8: What Is Water?, 2022)
Growing up in South Carolina, reliance on plastic water bottles was a norm, tap water at my home was often not safe to drink from, and I overall didn’t pay close attention to my water usage. However, since living and studying in Amsterdam, I have noticed a significant difference. Here, I have access to high-quality tap water and have come to appreciate the Netherlands’ international recognition for its excellence in water management. This contrast motivated me to understand why there is such a disparity in water prioritization worldwide. I read The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water by Charles Fishman and reached out to the author to delve deeper into society’s relationship with water and dispel common misconceptions.
Society and Water
As we all know, water is one of the fundamental human necessities. Unlike other resources, it is irreplicable and essential for every aspect of life, from consumption, sanitation, and survival. Most of us choose to live near water. Many of us have a love for water. But do we know and understand water? Despite its critical importance, our attitude toward water often reflects that we take it for granted. Many people, particularly in developed nations are water illiterate, unaware of where their water comes from and what is required to deliver it (McCarroll & Hamann, 2020). As Charles says, “Once it enters the drain, they have no idea where it goes after that.”
This disconnect highlights a broader issue of environmental disengagement, where the invisibility of water’s distribution and treatment processes contributes to a lack of appreciation for its value. While challenges such as scarcity and contamination are significant on a global scale, they unfortunately remain distant concerns for those fortunate enough to have easy access to clean water. This disparity in awareness underscores the need for enhanced education and advocacy surrounding water issues, encouraging individuals to recognize their role in responsibly managing this invaluable resource for future generations.
Water Problems are Local
One common misconception highlighted by Charles is that there is no global water crisis in the same manner as climate change. Water is a resource that is found everywhere, but it is not a global resource- it’s inherently local. Therefore, while water issues are widespread, they manifest uniquely in each region. Climate change exacerbates these issues globally, yet the solutions necessitate localized approaches. “The good news is you can fix it, and the bad news is only you can fix it”- Charles Fishman. Therefore, while the impacts of climate change intensify water challenges on a global scale, the solutions must be tailored to the specific contexts of each locality.
The encouraging aspect is that framing water challenges at a local level is often more motivating. Labeling it as a global water crisis can be disheartening, particularly for myself and surely others. For instance, when individuals perceive issues like climate change as a daunting global problem, it can evoke feelings of helplessness and disengagement (Gunderson, 2022).
We Have Enough Water
Many of us have likely encountered alarming headlines suggesting that the world is on the brink of running out of water due to current consumption habits. However, Charles Fishman offers a perspective that often goes overlooked. He emphasizes that the world is not going to run out of water as all of the water on Earth has been here since the beginning (Davis, 2023). The issue lies not in the scarcity of water itself, but rather in how our behaviors have historically impacted its accessibility and distribution, as well as how we continue to manage it moving forward.
The Water Cycle; Source: (The Cycling of Water, n.d.)
In fact, when looking at water availability, we tend to ignore the ocean. The oceans aren’t off-limits. The oceans are actually where we get our water. They are an abundant reservoir from which we derive a significant portion of our freshwater supply. Each year, the Earth’s oceans evaporate about 450,000 cubic kilometers of water into the atmosphere (Lake Evaporation on the Rise, 2022). This immense volume of water eventually condenses and falls back to Earth as precipitation, replenishing freshwater sources such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater aquifers (The Cycling of Water, n.d.). Therefore, far from being off-limits, the oceans play a vital role in sustaining global water cycles and supplying essential freshwater resources.
Source: (Water Science School, 2019)
Moving Forward
Charles underscores a crucial point: the main issue lies in the undervaluation of water. Despite its critical importance, water often remains underpriced, leading to inefficient usage and insufficient investment in water infrastructure. Our true challenge is ensuring equitable access to water and encouraging responsible stewardship through appropriate pricing mechanisms. By reassessing how we price water and investing in sustainable solutions, we can promote conservation and address pressing water challenges.
Finally, as climate change continues to impact our planet, the distribution of water is altered in unexpected ways, challenging established infrastructure and societal norms. I hope this blogpost prompts you to reevaluate your relationship with water and delve deeper into this critical topic. With climate change exacerbating water-related challenges worldwide, urgent action is needed to address these pressing issues.
References
Davis, J. (2023, December 19). How did Earth get its water? The Planetary Society. https://www.planetary.org/articles/how-did-earth-get-its-water
Gunderson, R. (2022). Powerless, Stupefied, and Repressed Actors Cannot Challenge Climate Change: Real Helplessness as a Barrier Between Environmental Concern and Action. Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour. https://doi.org/10.1111/jtsb.12366
Lake Evaporation on the Rise. (2022, July 12). Earthobservatory.nasa.gov. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/150067/lake-evaporation-on-the-rise#:~:text=Each%20year%2C%20roughly%20450%2C000%20cubic
McCarroll, M., & Hamann, H. (2020). What We Know about Water: A Water Literacy Review. Water, 12(10), 2803. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12102803
Our Water Future – Without Fear – Part 1 of 8: What is Water? (2022, March 1). Fluid Solutions. https://flusol.com/uncategorized/what-is-water/
The Cycling of Water. (n.d.). PBS LearningMedia. https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/buac20-68-sci-ess-cyclingofwater/the-cycling-of-water/
Water Science School. (2019, October 25). The distribution of water on, in, and above the Earth. Usgs.gov. https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/distribution-water-and-above-earth
Energy, Climate & Sustainability 
I think this blog post was really interesting to read. The flow was really logical and well structured. I feel like this perfectly represents the complexities of the relationship society has with water, and such that it emphasised the need for increased awareness and solutions on problems related to water. By addressing misconceptions, such as the global nature of water crises, and highlighting the local nuances of water management, it forces me as a reader to reconsider my own perceptions and behaviours. Moreover, the discussion on the value of water and the importance of equitable access highlights the urgency for concerted action in the face of climate change. Overall, this blog post serves as a thought-provoking call to action, urging us to reevaluate our role in protecting this important resource. Well done!
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing this Veronica! First of all your post is really nicely laid out and super informative so thanks for taking the time to delve into this subject matter. Second, your insights really shifted my view on the water crisis. I’ve always been under the impression that we were running out of water, so it’s refreshing and quite enlightening to hear about the real issues of management and value instead. I hadn’t fully considered the economic angles of water conservation, so your blog post has definitely spurred me to think more critically about how water is priced and managed. During your talk with Charles Fishman, did you guys discuss the specifics of water pricing? I can imagine it being an incredibly difficult commodity to price, commodity might not even be the correct word actually, did he give any insights? Thanks for broadening my understanding and great job!
LikeLike
Your blog post is really engaging to read! From your opening sentence, I knew I would learn something. In Rome, we are used to drinking tap water, and the city is full of fountains where everyone, from tourists to locals, comes to drink and fill their bottles in. As I read through your post, I realized two main points: this sustainable practice, common in Rome and many other cities like the Netherlands as you mentioned, isn’t universal, and many regions lack the capacity or incentives to adopt it. Secondly, this led me to recognize that water issues are often localized, and global water shortage isn’t something that is going to happen. However, it raises a question: areas facing water scarcity tend to be less developed and may lack the resources to use ocean water or adopt new technologies. Therefore, I was wondering if, given that the problem is local and the book advocates for localized solutions, international aid or a global system be a useful or necessary tool to address these structural inequalities?
LikeLike
Wow, I’m really impressed by this blog post! Last summer I travelled to Namibia, where there are extreme droughts. Everywhere there were signs stressing the importance of using water scarcely. I returned home with a feeling that I should decrease the amount of water I use. Although we should of course be considerate about our water usage, your blog post has made me realise that me saving water in Amsterdam will not help the shortage in Namibia – the problem is localised like you mention. There are other issues we must face to fix this problem.
I really like how you wrote about your own topic and show your own opinion whilst incorporating your conversation with Charles to back up your arguments and thoughts. Very well done!
LikeLike
Thank you @Eva When I talked with Charles about the economics and pricing of water we mainly talked about how we don’t charge enough to look at new technology that might cost money to put in place, but in turn might save water and money down the light. We typically charge the operational costs enough to run the system, but we don’t invest that much in the system at all. This also leads to so many people perceiving water as essentially free or don’t treat their water bill similarly to their energy or electricity bills. The key is to have water that is priced equitably. If you have for instance a lawn that needs to be watered in an area dealing with water scarcity, this should cost significantly more for this luxury. We didn’t discuss the specific pricing mechanisms across different countries as this gets very technical and dependent on so many factors. However, changing the price incentivizes people to be smarter with it, and can lead to more money to fix the current system.
LikeLike