The Battle for Water
Some parts of the world are literally drying up today, affecting communities of rich and poor alike. Natural water sources are being depleted at an unprecedented rate, and fears are growing that growing water scarcity will eventually lead to international conflict.
Water scarcity is a major global socioeconomic problem that has grown over the years, raising many fundamental health and safety concerns. “What would happen if there wasn’t enough water for everyone?” the film asks.
How three different regions currently facing water scarcity deal with their situation answers this compelling question. One solution is to use water trucks to bring water to their worksites. While this is simple and practical for emergencies, it is not sustainable. Ultimately, these tankers bring water from other communities that also need it. While they may now have a surplus to share, those resources will also be depleted.
California was once lush, green and beautiful. However, it has had to contend with decades of drought and is now more barren and desert. For example, Mendocino County has been using water trucks to deliver water to residents for more than a year. It is hard to believe that 30 years ago the community generally ignored water and sanitation management in the region. It is now in the spotlight as people scramble to find drinking water.
In the German city of Raunau, they have an extremely limited supply of drinking water, which is sometimes interrupted by extreme temperatures. Everyone wants and needs more water, but there isn’t enough water. They currently survive on water brought in by fire trucks.
The water table in Lauenau has declined over the past decade, a characteristic they share with many parts of the world. Other potential sources of water, such as dams, are also not good for the environment and won’t last forever.
After all, Silicon Valley in Las Vegas and Phoenix, Arizona, have been without water for so long that what they’re currently experiencing may even be worse than a drought. What’s happening in this region can be called aridification, or the long-term gradual shift from wet and humid places to dry, arid and desert-like places.
Water scarcity is not new, but its acceleration is worrying. It drives people to move to other areas, where borders or laws may not be able to stop mass migrations.
There have also been conflicts over water scarcity that have spanned over 4,000 years, dating as far back as ancient Mesopotamia. If the situation remains dire or worsens, history could repeat itself if we don’t act together now and find ways to effectively conserve water.
Directed by: Daniel Harrich
