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The world's attention has been focused on petro–
leum suppl ies. But another vital resource-fresh
water- has been taken for granted.
by
Clayton Steep
D
IL?
People got by without it for thousands of
years. We could too if we had to.
We could find alternate sources of energy. We
could develop synthetic fuels. We could substitute and
modify. We could live without it.
Not so for fresh water!
Life depends on it. Our bodies are composed mostly of water.
We need fresh water to function- to drink, to bathe in, to grow
food. There is no artificial water, no "synwater."
It
has to be the
real thing.
But there is plenty of water on earth. Seventy-five percent of
the su rface of our planet is covered with it. Vast amounts are to
be found underground. But the problem is that not all water is
"fresh." And what clean, usable fresh water there is is becoming
scarce to larger and larger segments of humanity.
The Gian t Distlllery
There is just about as much water on earth today as there
ever has been. Very little has been lost or added since
creation. The same water has been t ransferred time and time
WATER IS MOST APPRECIA TED where it is scarce. In many areas of the
wor/d careful use is a way of lite. Beginning at upper left-hand comer and
going clockwise. pictures show: In Abu Dhabi, on the Arabian península, the
lack of rainfa/1 means trees or decorative shrubs must be watered by hand.
Dramatic portrait of stark desolation in Nevada. Rationing out available
water during a drought. Making the desert bloom in Israel. In this agr icultura/
project in Abu Dhabi, water is fed to plants through plastic tubing.
A
fertile,
watered va/ley in mostly arid Egypt. Partially comP.Ieted pumping station in
Arizona desert. And (center photo) a channel of water in Egypt.
Clockwi$B l rom top lelt. Rene Burri - Msgnum; Daniel Osncer-8/ack Stsr;
KBza-LiBi$On,·
David Seymour–
Magnum: Hsrry Redl - 8/ack Star: Ench Lessing- Magnum: Harry Redi - Btsck Stsr: Rene Burri-Msgnum.
Background photo: Charles Moore - 8/sck Stsr