Drinking water shortages normal in much of world, US is not immune, warns fresh water advocate

Press release

Drinking water shortages normal in much of world, US is not immune, warns fresh water advocate

With growing pollution, drought and population, safe and abundant drinking water should not be taken for granted says radio host Sharon Kleyne

Hear the Sharon Kleyne Hour Power of Water on World Talk Radio, Voice America, Green Talk Network and Apple iTunesp

Anyone who can drink a glass of fresh water, wash their hands or take a bath whenever they choose, is fortunate says fresh water advocate Sharon Kleyne. In much of the world fresh water shortages are the norm. The water from a single US bathtub could keep a family in Nigeria alive for a week.* Every day, according to Kleyne, thousands of people around the world, including children, die from water related diseases. The United States, with its areas of extended drought, rapid population growth and air pollution not yet under control, is not immune

*Ibukun, Y and Kay, C, "Nigerian water shortage is bigger killer than Boko Haram," Blomberg Business, January 26, 2015

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-01-26/nigerian-water-shortage-is-bigger-killer-than-boko-haram-cities

Kleyne will discuss global water shortages and their causes on her upcoming Sharon Kleyne Hour™ Power of Water® radio show of February 2, 2015. For the live broadcast, or podcasts of past shows, go to http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/2207/the-sharon-kleyne-hour.

The syndicated Sharon Kleyne Hour™ Power of Water® radio show, hosted by fresh water advocate Sharon Kleyne, is heard weekly on VoiceAmerica and Apple iTunes. The education oriented show is sponsored by Bio-Logic Aqua® Research, a global research and technology center founded by Kleyne and specializing in fresh water, the atmosphere and dehydration. Nature's Tears® EyeMist® is the Research Center's signature product for dry and dehydrated eyes.

Worldwide, 1.5 billion of Earth's seven billion human inhabitants lack safe and abundant water for drinking, sanitation, agriculture and economic activity. Five thousand children die or go blind each day from water related illness. In addition, drought, pollution and climate change affect the amount and quality of humidity (water vapor) in the atmosphere, which can lead to diseases such as severe dry eye syndrome or malignant melanoma.

Lack of a fresh water infrastructure is a major problem in much of the world, Kleyne notes. In some developing countries, there may be enough water but the treatment and distribution capacity to keep up with demand is lacking. Part of the problem is that water infrastructure is expensive and the general public - or greedy governments - often cannot or will not pay for them.

In the United States, says Kleyne, most people have unlimited water at their fingertips, 24 hours a day, for pennies a gallon. Unless they take decisive measures to protect this water, however, it might soon disappear. The handling of the record breaking California drought is an interesting case in point. Although California's vast aqueduct system has been unable to meet demand, innovative conservation and recycling projects in parts of Southern California are assuring a constant water supply in those areas. And new research is gradually bringing down the cost.

Public awareness is a major factor in resolving water shortages, Kleyne believes. When a Californian or Nevadan takes a bath, they need to be aware that their water is imported from Colorado, which is experiencing its own water shortage and may soon be unable to export water. Their bath water might also be the result of bitter negotiations between agricultural and municipal water interests in which supplying water to one side comes at the expense of the other.

Kleyne is optimistic that the world's fresh water problems, grim as they are, can be solved. The fresh water needs of humans, compared to the total volume of water on Earth, is minuscule and there should be enough fresh water for everyone - not only in California and Colorado but in Nigeria and elsewhere. The problems are lack of infrastructure and distribution; corrupt, impoverished or ignorant governments; lack of cooperation between governments and water suppliers, not enough education about water conservation, and most of all, lack of awareness of the problem and its solutions by political leaders and the public.

Maintaining the fresh water supply of their citizens should be the number one priority of every government entity in the world, Kleyne believes. She also believes that water suppliers should be allowed to pass on the full cost to the public. Ideally, fees would be on a sliding scale based on volume used, with free water for basic substance assured to everyone.

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