Water Shortage ahead for the US
Water. It’s the single most important resource to life on Earth. Many humans cannot live for more than a handful of days without it. A new report however, warns that the United States is running out of drinking water.
A recent article in National Geographic references a government sponsored report that has revealed the problem. Large portions of the US could see as much as a 30% reduction of fresh water supplies in the next 50 years.
credit: Long Pyles
The primary driver of the impending shortage is the excess use and waste of freshwater. In many regions, America will soon find itself in a situation where freshwater basins will not meet the water demand.
On average, Americans use over 345 billion gallons of water every day. With the high increase in population, the shortage of water is going to be a serious problem for country. Of the 204 water basins which provide fresh water to Americans, 96 are already suffering from evaporation and water demand.
Some studies say that the effects of shortages could be felt as early as next year. Forty states in the US are facing a dry forecast due to water shortages by next year. California stands out in one of the worst droughts in recent history.
While historically dry areas are becoming drier, recent sudden climatic changes are also leading to wet regions becoming wetter. The result are natural disasters at both ends of the spectrum.
According to the experts, the best thing for Americans to do is to focus on water conservation and reduce waste. For the next generation, this will be a must.
In 80 years, the population will have increased by 200 million in the US. With half a billion people then living in the country, resources will be greatly strained.
The recent report indicates that by 2071, half of America’s freshwater and rivers will not meet the monthly water demands.
With an anticipated 5.7-degree average temperature increase expected in the near future, the water shortage problem will only get worse without action.
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