Water Wars and Sustainability

MaryChristineYoustinaAsdruval

Learning Objectives

• Conceptualize just how precious a resource drinking water is

• Be able to understand methods of sustainability

• Learn how to ensure a cleaner future

Quick TED Talk to Get Us Started

• http://www.ted.com/talks/fahad_al_attiya_a_country_with_no_water.html

• Windmillhttp://www.ted.com/talks/william_kamkwamba_on_building_a_windmill.html

Activity

Tainted water flows from taps ofrural Valley homes

By Mark Grossi / The Fresno Bee

1. “Like many rural families in the San Joaquin Valley, the Alvarados see the snow-capped Sierra, but they get tap water tainted from rotting vegetation, fertilizers, manure, septic tanks and decrepit plumbing.”

2. “The water is often laced with nitrates, a chemical linked to a potentially lethal infant illness as well as cancer.”

3. “In Tulare County, tests have detected the chemical in the wells of many towns -- Strathmore, Lindsay, East Porterville, Ducor, Woodlake, Lemon Cove, Seville, Cutler, Orosi, East Orosi, Yettem and Tonyville.”

Facing the Fresh Water CrisisBy Peter Rogers

4.“As in New Delhi and Phoenix, policymakers

worldwide wield great power over how water

resources are managed.”

5. “What is more, many water sources

are threatened by faulty waste

disposal, releases of industrial

pollutants, fertilizer runoff and

coastal influxes of saltwater into

aquifers as groundwater is depleted.

Because lack of access to water can

lead to starvation, disease, political

instability and even armed conflict,

failure to take action can have broad

and grave consequences.”

6. “The economic actors had all taken their share reasonably enough; they just did not consider the needs of the natural environment, which suffered greatly when its inadequate supply was reduced to critical levels by drought.”

7. “Like supply, demand for water varies from place to place. Not only does demand rise with population size and growth rate, it also tends to go up with income level: richer groups generally consume more water, especially in urban and industrial areas.”

REFLECTIVE ACTIVITY- What are some ways we could reduce the contamination in waters?- How can we reduce wasting clean water?- How can you connect today's discussion to other core topics?-Did you like our presentation? How can we improve and what were some things you disliked?