Preview

Précis: Water Follies By Glennon

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
592 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Précis: Water Follies By Glennon
Précis – Water Follies

Purpose: This text was written in order to bring light to the fact that as the science of hydrology has grown enormously in recent years, the legality that dictates how ground and surface water may be used has been stuck in the 1800s.

Argument: There is a detrimental disconnect between science and policy regarding domestic water usage that encourages rampant misuse and exploitation. Glennon argues that the common property resource of groundwater urgently requires more regulation, and that groundwater cannot be seen as legally separate from surface water. Laws that were drafted in the 1800s certainly do not reflect the demands of modern society and legislation needs to evolve as society does. We have exerted relentless ingenuity in creating technological fixes to water scarcity when what really needs to occur is a change in policy and a change in the public mindset that water is free and abundant. Lawmakers and government officials need to step up and address this gap between law and science before it is too late.
…show more content…
The first two chapters provide insight into the importance of aquifers and how groundwater use/reliance in the US has skyrocketed. He then goes on to expose specific cases of key rivers and aquifers being badly misused all around the United States. After depicting each case study in detail Glennon goes on to suggest problems that have gotten us into this mess. Such as: sprawling population growth, a wasteful attitude regarding water, Tragedy of the Commons (unlimited access to CPR) and legality that encourages exploitation. With his point soundly made Glennon wraps up with a call to action to both concerned citizens and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Best Essays

    Atlanta recently received confirmed rights to use the ACF and the ATF Basins as sources for drinking water. The multi-decade long battle between Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, during which Atlanta had been using the water [quasi-legally], ended this summer in Atlanta’s favor to the general consternation of Alabamans and Floridians. At first glance, the fact that Atlanta claims rights to a lake in Georgia (40 miles North of Atlanta) would not seem to be an interstate problem. However, arguments from Alabama and Florida that the rivers flowing out of the lake continue through those states, and that the original provision of the dam and lake had nothing to do with water supply have provided confusion over who has primary rights. Like many other downstream constituencies of rivers all over the world,…

    • 4723 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Free flowing, natural and beautiful. That is what one may think when hearing the word “water”. The topic of water privatization has many sides. The idea of privatization over water has been around for many years. The article “Looming Water Crisis” written by Peter Beher, is about two executive directors from different corporations stating their opinion on this subject. Terry L. Anderson is an executive director at the Hoover Institution. He is pro water privatization. Anderson explains that if water is privatized there would be an increase in conservation. “As long as water’s cheap, why fix the faucet or switch to an efficient irrigation system?” states Anderson. He also believes that it would be the best way to…

    • 519 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Central Valley Case Study

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages

    While putting off the farming, this cost and lose a great deal of money to the economy. However, there is another way of getting the water and it is from underground, this is where farmers use the method of digging deep under the soil to get the water. Here is another problem, when this method is used, it can be caused major destruction to the environment and leads to another issue. It is like a never-ending domino effect of one dilemma after another. In one of the Core reading assignment, farmers from the Valley discussed the usage of with the groundwater system. The article is called, “Farmers say, ‘No apologies,’ as well drilling hits record levels in San Joaquin Valley”, it explained some problems with property rights, the cost, and workers with the regulation of how the water should be in the agriculture with government. It first stated, “As farmers ramp up drilling and install larger, more powerful pumps, aquifers that had quietly flourished beneath the soil for thousands of years are dropping at dangerous rates” (Sabalow, Kasler, Reese, 2). The cost of pumping is low and there will is no loss of evaporation but the supply form groundwater is pollutants have a long residence time. The groundwater is renewable only if it has a…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Economists are often asked to prepare reports with objective analyses balancing the cost and potential damage to the water sources against economic benefits to the local and national communities. These requests for analysis can provide interesting ethical questions for those asked to prepare the reports. The dilemma you are about to answer will explore some of those ethical questions.…

    • 1433 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As soon as I started reading, Reid was able to get my attention and engage me into his final chapters. Using the fictional examples of Wendy and Juanita I was able to get a better understanding of what many Americans go through when they don’t have access to insurance. Wendy and Juanita had one thing in common, they both had ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, Wendy was able to get treated and Juanita wasn’t. What was the reason for this?…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Geography HW 6

    • 522 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Using named examples, assess the role of different players and decision-makers in trying to secure a sustainable ‘water future’. [15]…

    • 522 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This has caused a bill to be brought up to regulate water ,Meaning everyone would have a balanced amount of water.Only thing holding this bill down is the voting part.…

    • 839 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hg Wells Research Paper

    • 243 Words
    • 1 Page

    If our groundwater was monitored, we would not allow water to be withdrawn from underground. “California’s weak groundwater regulations have accepted more water to be taken from underground reserves that can not be returned”,(source 2). “Over 95% of the state now face severe drought conditions”(source 2). If we had laws to maintain our water, more than over 95% of our state would not be in such a plight.…

    • 243 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Do you want to save water and money on your water bill? Have enough for you and your family? As you know the United States is in a big problem with the drought. Well without water the farmers will have trouble planting the fruit and vegetables. Which means the food prices will go up and you will have to earn more money they you already have to get food to provide for you and your family. There are some ways so you can save water and money and lower your water bill so it is a 3 way win for you, which is regulate the groundwater.…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Water is necessary for all living organisms on this planet, especially humans. Without water, you will die. You can make it about three weeks without food, but you can only make it about three days without water. I guess you can say that water is pretty important. In Flint Michigan, they can’t even drink their water without a serious risk to your health. About two years ago, the state decided to save money by switching Flint's water supply from Lake Huron, to the Flint River. This plan backfired. Many problems have began to occur as a result, so if we don’t fix this water one major problem soon, this issue will only got worse.…

    • 360 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Module 5 drew upon the needs and desires of people in society. The module explored who, if anyone, would be responsible for meeting the wants of the human population. Currently, water is a crucial natural resource for people everywhere. However, our water supply is decreasing due to many factors. In exploring this dilemma module 5 raises questions such as Who will be entitled to water when supplies become scarce? In the text, Facing the Fresh Water Crisis, Rodgers claimed that the exponential water consumption will eventually degrade all ecosystems on Earth. In response to the question raised by module 5 Rodgers argued that current technologies can avert a water war between societies. He takes a preventive…

    • 818 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Water is one of the most important resources that we as a species need in order to survive. Although it is abundant on earth, only a few bodies of this precious resource are considered drinkable. According to the World Wildlife Fund, about 1.1 billion people lack access to water (2015). Everyday we use water, whether it’s for drinking purposes, going to the bathroom, and many other daily tasks. However, people have abused this privilege in having access to water. Water is unknowingly squandered by situations such as pollution, drought, or straight up negligence in our own homes. If we, as a society do not take any action at all, then our water supply will surely plummet leaving us to live in a catastrophic world. So what can we do to prevent…

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Clean Water In Texas

    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages

    We struggle with the rampant weather, healthcare procedure and the general policies. Now Texas citizens must also endure the water rights debate that is increasingly becoming a huge concern across the state. Not only are conservation issue being raised, nor the use of Texas policy for private corporations to monetize groundwater. The state of Texas is growing into a dilemma and losing the battle for resource expenditure of public above ground water. Prime examples of the dilemma are becoming public in cities that rely heavily on ground or above ground water such as Odessa, San Antonio, and Austin. Texas must update its constitution and its citizens must reform for the state to brace itself for any more additions to its…

    • 1006 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Canada's Water Situation

    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Before any talks begin regarding the sale or sharing of Canada’s water takes place, Canada must take care of the water shortage going on within its borders first. According to Environment Canada, 11% of all water use in Canada is for municipalities, more than half of which is dedicated to residential areas. 74% of this is surface water while 26% is subsurface (Environ. Canada). Also according to Environment Canada, from 1994-2004, over 26% of municipalities reported supply problems. Groundwater sources have encountered more shortages and due to them being usually closed systems, areas have had to rely on deeper water sources, which typically contain harmful heavy metals (Macdonald, 2009). Canada’s surface water, an abundant supply, also faces serious problems. Lakes in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta have been retreating as early as the 20th century (Mittelstaedt, 2006). The same source predicts a likely mid-century return to the 1930’s-era “dust bowl” conditions. Along with supply shortages of water, Canada also has the problem of allowing every Canadian access to its water. With…

    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Issues of Water War

    • 1119 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Water is essential for life; it is an indispensable resource for the economy. Not only we human use it every day to survive, but every living organism needs it to live. Water is becoming a hot topic around the globe because of water waste and water pollution. A few states and cities are also having water wars. There are many states and cities with many issues of these water wars, but the issues with the tri-state water wars between Georgia, Alabama, and Florida caught my attention. For a long times, Georgia, Alabama and Florida has been fighting over the future supply of water from the Apalachicola Chattahoochee Flint (ACF) river basin and the Alabama Coosa Tallapoosa (ACT) River Basin. It is a battle between the population of Atlanta, the ecological interests of Florida, and the municipal, industrial, and power uses of Alabama. Each state has its own interest and issues about the suitable distribution of water.…

    • 1119 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays