A Toronto Star editorial recently called a frightening irony to our attention. On the same day a United Nations report warned that more than a billion people worldwide face growing shortages of water, American scientists announced they found evidence of water on Enceladus, a far-off moon of Saturn.
Maine, Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and the Great Lakes states all appear to be well endowed with clean fresh water, yet appearances can be deceiving.
The Midwest, home to the world's most expansive source of fresh water, demonstrates a prototypically American pattern of water use and a "what me worry" mentality. Five years ago, The New York Times reported a story that has become all too typical. "In the Chicago area, hydrologists say land that would normally soak in water and replenish aquifers has been paved over, effectively blocking water needed to refill the underground basins. In past shortages, people tapped into Lake Michigan. When Chicago was coming of age, it reversed the flow of the Chicago River, draining water out of Lake Michigan instead of into it. Now, the so-called collar counties around Chicago, which are expected to add 1.3 million people over the next 18 years, find that the lake is off limits and supplies below ground are not being adequately replenished."
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Posted by Dave at March 21, 2006 10:19 AM