Curbing world population necessary to save water supply

To the editor:

As July 11, designated by the United Nations as World Population Day, approaches, we enter perhaps the hottest summer in history, with the world's fresh water supply at an all-time low. By mid-century, half the world's inhabitants may lack sufficient water.

Although the problem may not seem as severe in the United States as it is in developing countries, three of our fastest growing states — California, Florida and Texas — already feel the water squeeze, from restaurants not routinely serving water with meals to 1,500 fires consuming more than 108,000 acres in Florida.

Ninety-seven percent of the planet's water supply is sea water. Of the remaining three percent, two percent is locked up in glaciers and polar ice caps. Thus, the world's 6.1 billion people, as well as all animal and plant species, rely on one-third of the one commodity necessary to sustain life — potable water. And another one billion people are added to the world every 12 years, further encroaching on limited resources. Twenty-two countries already depend on other nations for their water — a dependency that could well lead to wars between water-deficient countries and neighbors disinclined to share their own diminishing supplies.

To prevent a global water crisis, we must focus immediately on conserving the supply we have; efforts to convert sea water to fresh water; and accelerating pollution abatement and family planning efforts. All interventions to ensure sufficient fresh water for future generations, however, are doomed to failure unless the world's population can be brought into balance with its environment and resources.

This is the message each of us should heed on World Population Day 2001. For how you can help, call 1-800-787-0038.

Werner Fornos, president, Population Institute