For most people in the developed world, water shortages rank low on the list of things keeping them up at night. Without wishing insomnia on anyone, I believe that ought to change. According to the YaleGlobal Online article "Is Water the Next Oil?" by Rohini Nilekani, water is in short supply for more than 20 percent of the world's people. And a recent report by 24 agencies of the United Nations (UN) says new water management crises continue to develop. In 2008, the U.S.rngovernment estimated that at least 36 states will experience water shortages within 5 years.rnIt's important to note that this isn't news. In 1999, the World Bank reported that 80 countries were facing water shortages; plus, 40 percent of the world-more than 2 billion people at that time-had limited or no access to clean water or sanitation. Additionally, more than a dozen nations derive water from rivers that cross borders of neighboring, possibly hostile, countries. In such instances, the UN warns, water could increase the risk of national and international security threats.
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