“WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK.”

~Herman Melville in Moby Dick

“People now know the price of everything (person), but the true cost of nothing

(society).” Paul Hawkin, Natural Capitalism

• Anthropocene Era• 1.1 billion people in the world (1 in 6) do not

have access to clean water (2007)• 5.3 billion (2/3) of the world may suffer from

water shortage in 2025• Aquifers are being depleted to support our

water intensive lifestyles• Water is diverted away from the

environment to support our water intensive lifestyles.

• Population is growing and everyone needs water

Anthropocene Era• Term coined by Paul Crutzen in

2000, Nobel winner in atmospheric chemistry

• Humans are driving earth change• Collaborative scientific effort to put

a meaningful start date• 1950s, beginning of nuclear age and

age of consumerism• Major changes to earth systems• Unknown complexity of systems• Earth will persist, humans may not

• Ogallala aquifer supplies the agricultural water for the breadbasket of the United States.

• As of 2013, 30% of the water in the High Plains Aquifer is gone.

• Experts predict that if usage continues at current rates, the aquifer will be dry by 2050

• Wells are already going dry across the Central Plains

• According to a Kansas State University study done in 2013:

“Although consumption of freshwater supplies has not yet a potentially dangerous planetary threshold, crop yields have begun to fall in many regions because of water scarcity, and global food security remains a worldwide concern," the report said. "There is a clear need for society to become prepared for the consequences of reductions in groundwater use that shall occur in the foreseeable future.“ (David Steward, civil engineer)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ironrodart/4308675209https://www.flickr.com/photos/infomastern/10631257575https://www.flickr.com/photos/ricricciardi/9491826761https://www.flickr.com/photos/zachd1_618/8048942272

http://www.unep.org/dewa/vitalwater/article43.htmlhttp://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0827/Ogallala-aquifer-Could-critical-water-source-run-drySmolan, R. & Erwitt. (2007). J. Blue Planet Run. San Rafael, CA: Earth Aware

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