Water, Water Everywhere, but Fewer Drops to Drink

Ironically, the world’s most precious resource is also one of its most plentiful. More than three-quarters of the world is literally covered in water. Yet, only 1 percent of the world’s water supply is fit to drink. Ninety-seven percent is salt water, and 2 percent is frozen in glaciers or polar ice caps.

As the Economist made clear in a July 17, 2003 report, there are two problematic trends associated with the way mankind is using this resource.

First, the supply and the demand are out of whack. In some lo.....