Archive Article: A Shortage Of Water. 20 Sep 02.
December 29, 2008

The United States is currently mediating a dispute over water between Israel and Lebanon. This is an indication of how disputes in the Middle East may occur as easily over water as over oil.

The Earth Policy Institute in Washington DC has just issued a report entitled “Water Deficits in Many Countries”. Its author, Lester Brown, explains that the world’s shortage of water has been, until recently, an invisible crisis. The over-pumping of water from underground and the falling water tables are not easily seen. Unlike burning forests or invading sand dunes, these developments cannot be easily photographed. Indeed, the full extent of the problem is often only obvious when these locations have run dry.

Historically, water shortage used to be only local. But in the present integrated global economy, the shortfalls can cross national boundaries in unexpected ways. For example, if a country has a shortage of water and cannot irrigate its own crops, then it can buy food on the international market. A ton of grain in this context therefore equals 1,000 tons of water. In other words, by importing grain it reduces the need to grow its own.

But will there always be enough food? Japan used to be the world’s main importer of wheat. Now Iran and Egypt have overtaken it. This represents an additional burden to their economic problems.

About 70 per cent of the world’s water use, including all the water diverted from rivers and pumped from underground is used for irrigation. Meanwhile about 20 per cent is used by industry and 10 per cent goes to households. The implication here is that if the world is facing a shortage of water, then it will also face an eventual shortage of food. It is all very well for countries to try to buy their solution to water shortage by importing food – but a global shortage of water may mean a global shortage of food.

The Earth Policy Institute suggests that there are two ways of helping to solve the water crisis. First, water prices have to be raised. This means the politically unpopular measure of reducing subsidies for water prices. A higher price for water will give people an incentive to use water more carefully. It may also mean that some inappropriate water-intensive agricultural practices are stopped entirely.

Second, there has to be the stabilization of population in countries where there are water shortages. A reason for the current water crisis has been the increased global population. Most of the three billion people projected to be added worldwide by the middle of this century will be born in countries that are already having water shortages.

I have enjoyed reading the report. I would like to add two pieces of good news. First, the shortage of water is both a crisis and an opportunity. It presents an opportunity for organizations and companies that are efficient in their own use of water to sell their products and services to countries with a water shortage.

Second, as with the problem between Lebanon and Israel, the water shortage may also encourage countries to work together. Indeed, a solution to their common problem would be to import water from the water-rich eastern part of Turkey. This would give them all an incentive to work for a peaceful solution to their political problems. They either learn to live together or they will perish separately.

Broadcast On Friday 20th September 2002 On Radio 2GB’s “Brian Wilshire Programme” At 9pm.