World running out of clean drinking water

[kwicky]

We all know the story of our fishermen denied a decent living when the EU stipulated that we should share the fish in the North Sea with other members.
What would happen if Turkey joined the EU and made a claim on our water resources?

http://science.howstuffworks.com/run-out-of-wa ter.htm

[tubeway]

And where does this fit in with us being told that global warming is causing the icecaps to melt - thus giving us more fresh water.

I do not think the problem is quantity of fresh water - just the quality. All water is "used" and there is plenty to go around - it is up to us to make sure that the water is cleaned and distributed efficiently.

[kwicky]

I suggest you read the full article. Not only will there be a drastic worldwide shortage but it may lead to many wars.

[gen2]

That whole article is based on possibilities.
Its title is 'what happens IF we run out of water?'

Tubeway is correct - we just have to make sure resources are managed correctly.

So, to quote you kwicky, "Not only will there be a drastic worldwide shortage but it may lead to many wars.". Where are you gettin your degree of certainty from?

[jadyn]

I can't speak about the legal aspect of Turkey laying claim to water that lands on say, UK soil as I'm not familiar with the legalities involved.

However, the infrastructure to pipe water from the UK to Turkey is not in place. The cost of linking the countries via such a pipe would surely be prohibitively expensive even with EU support. Furthermore, I can't see that the environmentalists would be very happy about digging up large tracts of land through the countries in between Turkey and the UK. Who would pay for the upheaval in the countries involved?

I think we have to put the matter into perspective and admit that much of what the article cited mentioned goes on in fairly adjacent dictatorships in Africa, where law as we know it is virtually non-existent. If they want to ride roughshod over their neighbours they simply get on with it and most of the time assume a conflict will result.. Such behaviour will get them the water in the end although the price is horrifying in terms of both currency and human suffering.

[adamhornsby]

I can remember seeing a programme about this. Some inventers were tryng to find the best way to produce clean water, something like the 'Eden Project was featured i think

[jake-the-peg]

Would this be "our" fish outside of our 12miles territorial waters by any chance?

And why and how would Turkey pipe water 1500 miles from us when we don't even have a national water grid ourselves.

The sea outside of 12 miles is an international resource whereas our water supply is not.

It'd be as ridiculous as our making a claim to a Spanish mercury mine because we don't have any.

It's absolute tosh!

Worse than straight bananas - even the Mail wouldn't run this one I'm afraid!

[kwicky]

Who's talking about piping the stuff. Whats wrong with tankers. Many could not accept the threat of global warming but they speak with silent voices now. Just read up on the subject before sprouting such negative comments!