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A general overview of the world's water - availability, usage, needs, scarcity - are provided in Mr. Clark's book.

TitleWater : the international crisis
Publication TypeBook
Year of Publication1991
AuthorsClarke, R
Paginationxii, 193 p.: fig., tab.
Date Published1991-01-01
PublisherEarthscan
Place PublishedLondon, UK
ISBN Number1853831050
Keywordscab91/6, climate, environmental degradation, traditions, water demand, water resources conservation, water rights, water shortage
Abstract

A general overview of the world's water - availability, usage, needs, scarcity - are provided in Mr. Clark's book. Global runoff is estimated at 40,000 cubic kilometers per year, excluding the polar caps. South America receives one-third of this freshwater, while Australia receives less than one percent. If domestic use per person was approximately 100 litres per day, only 180 cubic kilometers of water per year would be used. Adding the water usage of industry, agriculture, and cooling would result in approximately 565 cubic kilometers water usage per year. The uneven distribution of rainfall, poor land and water management in developed and developing countries and climatic changes forspell a global water crisis that can be lessened or perhaps prevented. The possibility of international conflicts over water rights between countries already experiencing political tensions are discussed, as are high-tech solutions such as sea desalinization, traditional solutions such as runoff farming, and some new ideas.

NotesIncludes references
Custom 1276

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