For most of us living in the U.S., water is something we take for granted, available when you turn your tap on–—to brush your teeth, to take a shower, to wash your car, to water your lawn, and if you have your own swimming pool then, to fill that as well.
So it was with alarm that many of us read the story of Orme, a small town tucked away in the mountains of southern Tennessee that has become a recent symbol of the drought in the southeast. Orme has had to literally ration its water use, by collecting water for a few hours every day–—an everyday experience in most developing countries, but unusual for the U.S.
The Great Lakes should not be likened to a 'reservoir' or characterized as part of the nation's 'water supply,' and here's why. If Great Lakes water is to be shared, conservation must come first -- and the needs of the ecosystem itself need to be considered. But political pressures will soon mount for such sharing in the U.S.