According to National Geographic, 97% of the earth's water is saltwater. And 2% is locked into polar ice caps and glaciers. That leaves just 1% for about 7 billion people to share. Water is our most vital resource, and its value is appreciating. Look at your water utility bills over the past few years. Columbus Ohio, a heartland city with a river running through it, has had annual rate increases in water, sewer and stormwater ranging from 4.7% to 15% over the past 10 years.
Even more investment is needed to preserve what we have and to unlock additional water for the world. More public funding of R&D for solar desalinization and other energy-efficient, clean water production technologies. More private investment in water-conserving fixtures, appliances, commercial HVAC equipment and industrial process improvements. Stricter enforcement of anti-pollution and anti-contamination regulations for our waterways and underground aquifers. We can't afford to wait until water eclipses oil as our number one resource crisis.
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