The big thirst : the secret life and turbulent future of water

 by Charles Fishman. Fishman, author of the best-selling The Wal-Mart Effect (2006), bring his gifts for statistics and storytelling to this lively and invaluable assessment of the current politics, economics, and culture of water. Lyrical in his descriptions of the beauty and wonder of water, Fishman is rigorous when explaining that the water we have now is all the water we will ever have and that our golden age of abundant, safe, and cheap water may soon end, thanks to deteriorating infrastructure (7 billion gallons leak out of our water systems every day), rising urban populations, and climate change. Both water complacency and water poverty are rampant. A typical American uses about 100 gallons a day (5.7 billion gallons of drinking water are flushed down toilets daily), while approximately 5,000 children die worldwide every day from thirst or tainted water. Among his many case studies are Las Vegas' water extravaganzas and India's lack of 24/7 water even in its booming cities, which keeps millions of girls out of school to collect and carry each day's water supply an effort the intrepid Fishman attempts and finds arduous. Fishman praises tap water, observes that water consciousness is infectious, and declares that most water problems are, in fact, solvable. Fishman's engrossing water survey establishes the base for a much-needed water-use revolution. --Booklist (Check Catalog)