The Global Water Crisis in Historical Perspective

Nicholas BreyfogleDepartment of

HistoryThe Ohio State

University

Image: ecology.com

Quantity Quality Chronology Location Humans, flora, fauna

What do we mean by Crisis?

Photo: David Mixner; chart OECD

Intersection of the biological and ecological with the political, cultural, religious, economic, and social

Solutions must address this complex intersection

Two moments of significant change in human-water relationship

Normal?

What do we Learn from Water History?

Image: Lake Baikal. Author

From Hunter-Gatherer to settled agriculture

Water management techniques and engineering

The Water Revolution I:10,000-12,000 years ago

Human struggles to overcome water variability and to harness its power

Increasingly sophisticated technologies

Images: Creative Commons

The flourishing and collapse of civilizations: e.g. Angkor Wat

Photo: Charles J Sharp

Industrial Revolution Water became interconnected with machines

and fossil fuels (and later other energy sources)

Globalization of water and water movement

Water Revolution II19th and especially 20th centuries

Change in human ways of thinking about water Should not waste nature Can improve nature: Faith that hydro-

engineering can unleash bounty

Water Dreamers

Agriculture and Groundwater/Aquifers

Groundwater civilizations: U.S. West (e.g. Ogallala Aquifer) Saudi Arabia Australia

EG: The Rhine

Remaking Rivers and Lakes

Source: http://review.ucsc.edu/winter-03/river.html

Hoover Dam

Dam Building

Urban Water and Sewage

“Death's dispensary” 1866. A cartoon on the dangers of drinking water

Reduction in water-borne Disease:

Pollution

1) Control Population

Thoughts for the Future:What to do about Water Crises

2) Changes to agriculture 3) Water realists 4) Budget for cost 5) Focus on/Fund good science

Photos: Byrd Polar; Really Natural