Running Dry: The Global Water Crisis

Kallen, Stuart A.

3.26

31 ratings by Goodreads

9781467726467: Running Dry: The Global Water Crisis

ISBN 10: 146772646X ISBN 13: 9781467726467

Publisher: Twenty-First Century Books, 2015

As the planet's human population explodes, so does the demand for water. About one out of every nine people in the world does not have access to safe drinking water, while one out of every five―almost 1.5 billion humans―lives in a region where water demand is outstripping supply. But as demand grows, supplies do not. Climate change has led to severe drought, flooding, and massive storms in key agricultural areas of the world. Industrial and agricultural water pollution threatens public health around the world. Environmental protection measures are not keeping up with energy-production technologies such as fracking and the corn-for-fuel market, all of which affect water usage rates and safety.

Both developed and undeveloped areas of the world face challenges with water-delivery infrastructure. For example, undeveloped nations lack even the most basic water-delivery systems. Millions of global citizens are without sanitation altogether, polluting waterways with raw sewage. In the developed world, water-delivery infrastructures are aging and wasteful. Domestic and industrial overconsumption of water resources draws down supply capacity, depleting Earth's freshwater resources at an alarming rate. And, in the last few decades, private corporations have begun to take over municipal water delivery, buying the rights to freshwater supplies and selling bottled water, all for large profits. As the cost of clean water rises, many people can't afford the water they need for everyday use.

Competition for clean water is increasing, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Running Dry investigates some tough questions. In a crowded world with limited water supplies, will we be able to deliver safe, clean water to an increasingly thirsty world? Can governments, businesses, and individuals work together to clean up and protect Earth's water resources? Are water conservation strategies enough to ensure a water-rich future? Or will we run dry?

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About the Author:

Stuart A. Kallen has written more than 350 nonfiction books for children and young adults. His books have covered a wide arc of human history, culture, and science. Kallen is also an accomplished singer-songwriter and guitarist in San Diego, California.

Review:

"This title provides a clear and concise look at the importance of fresh water in sustaining life on earth. An introduction explains where fresh water is available and where it is most needed, while subsequent chapters discuss how water is tainted and where, the concept of supply and demand, and our changing climate. Fast facts, statistics, and information on governmental policies and scientific innovations that may help save water are all presented, allowing readers a brief overview of this global issue. The information is organized well, and the accompanying photos will enhance understanding. Both the length and format (comprised of short sections that shed light on various topics, such as water conservation, water rights, fracking, and the water cycle) of the book will appeal to those with little or no background on the subject. An excellent source for student research." ―School Library Journal

(Journal)

"This short, accessible book provides information on the growing water crisis. Looking at the subject globally, the discussion includes matters such as the dwindling supply of fresh water, its pollution by agriculture and industry, the dramatic effects of climate change, and the increasing competition for water. Kallen writes clearly and bolsters his arguments with specifics, such as the diminishing Ogallala aquifer, which lies beneath eight arid American states and supplies drinking water as well as nearly a third of the nation's irrigation water. Approximately 240 feet deep in the 1950s, it averages about 80 feet deep today. While the color photos are often rather small, they are well chosen and clearly reproduced. At intervals throughout the book, excellent sidebars and full-page features spotlight pertinent topics such as the desalination of sea water, the destructive effects of ethanol production on aquifers and river systems, and the 2014 chemical spill that contaminated drinking water in Charleston, West Virginia. This timely, informative resource offers young people facts and perspective on this vital topic." ―Booklist

(Journal)

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