To Quench Our Thirst: The Present and Future Status of Freshwater Resources of the United States

Freshwater resources underlie all agricultural and industrial processes and are fundamental to our survival. No technological substitutes for fresh water exist. United States society faces acute and chronic water resource crises, analogous to those that have repeatedly contributed to the demise and reduced standards in previous cultures. Corrective measures to reduce inefficient consumption, use, and degradation of existing water supplies can be accomplished with existing technology without losses of real economic productivity.