Parched planet

Summer is not yet in but water woes have started. Not only in the poor developing world, but also in the developed world, focus is shifting to water.

In the UK, a think tank, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has brought a report saying that low-income households are at particular risk because of new methods being introduced to increase the efficient use and distribution of water. It defines "water poverty" as when households spend 3% or more of their income on water bills.

It warns that water is becoming scarce as a result of climate change and increased consumer demand. An estimated four million households in the UK are already "water poor", according to the report, and the situation is likely to worsen, with bills predicted to rise by 5% a year for some customers. Water companies are moving away from flat-rate fees to new charging models that bill customers with steadily higher prices according to how much water they use.

A less recognised reason for the turmoil in Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Yemen, Jordan and now Iran has been rising food prices, directly linked to a growing regional water crisis. The Blue Peace report from Strategic Foresight examined long-term prospects for seven countries, including Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Israel. Five already suffer major structural shortages, it said, and the amount of water being taken from dwindling sources across the region cannot continue much longer. Oil is a poor substitute for water!

In this context, once again the issue is of water management and perhaps, privatisation. Will it solve the issue ro take water out of the hands of the poor?