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