Earth Day: Water

This sweeping study traces the development of water policy in the United States from the 19th century to the present day, exploring the role of legislation in appropriating access to water to the American people. * Addresses recent events including the handling of Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill in the Gulf * Consolidates difficult-to-locate documents on United States water policy * Covers topics as diverse as water doctrine, water rights, pollution control, wildlife conservation, invasive species regulation, and environmental damage mitigation * Describes the impact of climate change on water supply and safety * Focuses solely on the water issues affecting the United States

The average American lifestyle is kept afloat by about 2,000 gallons of H2O a day. The numbers are shocking. Your Water Footprint reveals the true cost of our lifestyle. A "water footprint" is the amount of fresh water used to produce the goods and services we consume, including growing, harvesting, packaging, and shipping. From the foods we eat to the clothes we wear to the books we read and the music we listen to, all of it costs more than what we pay at the check-out. The 125 footprint facts in this book show the true cost of our lifestyle and what it is doing to Earth, including draining it dry. The "Virtual Water Concept" shows the amount of water used in human activities. Presented in clever, understandable graphics, Your Water Footprint raises readers' awareness of how much water is used to make the things we use, consume and grow.

Water is an essential part of life on Earth. But in some places, it's running out. Through expert analysis and informational insets, students will learn about water scarcity, pollution, the impact on public health, and how to protect this diminishing resource. Take Action boxes will show teens how they can help stop the drought.

How is water scarcity becoming a serious problem worldwide-including in the United States? This book provides a broad overview of water, sanitation, and hygiene problems faced by both developing and developed nations around the globe and suggests how these problems can be solved by imaginative and innovative thinking. * Provides readers with an understanding of the severity of the water scarcity in the world today * Explains the nature of various sanitation issues around the world, how they arise, the problems for which they are responsible, and some possible solutions * Outlines the reasons that droughts are becoming a more serious problem in many parts of the world and what can be done to deal with these water shortages * Highlights the new, specialized problems concerning water supply raised by climate change