The drought in California was caused by multiple Governors doing nothing to prevent it.  No added storage in over 30 years.  Desal plants were scrapped.  But we have a "high speed rail" that uses busses and freight lines going to a destination no one goes to!

Flint is a major screw up by the leadership there.

Water shortage will be a problem only if our "leadership" continues to make it one so they can profit from it.

It already is. Warren Buffet and other top investors have turned their attention to fresh water related ventures; what does that tell you? Yes, water is the next next gold-oil-Internet in my opinion. However, I have lived through 3-4 major droughts in CA in my lifetime, so I'm not rattled by them, just influenced in my water habits. The worst one in my memory was in the 1970's, much worse than this one we're in. So, perspective plays into my outlook.

We hear promises of this sort of thing from time to time as people look at our abundant water supplies in the midwest.

But those who know much about the water cycle know that it is much easier to create pure water than to haul water or oil.

Susan, right now when we buy a half liter bottle of water at the gas station it is 5x more expensive per gallon than that the gas we filled our vehicle up with.  Our water bills for our home have tripled in the past twenty years.

Good morning Susan. I hope not. We have well water at our home and city water at my office. As far as I know,  we are good.

Susan Laxson - it is possible...and I hope someone is taking care of it NOW.

no, there are ways to use desalinization and the oceans are HUGE.  And my water supply is a private well and it's tested fine annually for 15 years.

I haven't given it muchthought, you have challenged me to check into it.

We have wonderful water. It's mainly snow melt and is minimally treated before it comes to my tap. 

Our water supply is safe and we have many rivers and lakes and been ahead of needed rainfall for several years.

We're already having to buy it by the bottle, when 50 years ago, when it was suggested that someday, we would have to pay for Drinkking water, people laughed.

     Increasing population in dry places like California and Arizona will only exacerbate the problem.

     Build more dams and reservoirs - except the EPA and the environmentalists won't allow it.

     Global warming is a hoax.

Hope not soon.

It makes me wonder how safe it is. I drink bottled water but that is a preference for me.

I do believe that one day it will be like oil.

There are serious water problems right now in many countries - and we might be one of them!

My dad was a smoker. One of my favorite 'outings' with him was to walk to the store to buy him cigarrettes, always trying to match his steps. I can't recall the number of times he said to me (in the late 50's, early 60's in Southern California), "I fear your biggest challenge when you grow up will be the lack of water." I always thought he was silly because we lived on the ocean!

that's a serious issue....and it's very realistic....

Droughts are caused by the Coriolis effect and are cyclic worldwide. Same goes for "global warming". Human contribution is about a 1000th of one percent, and not due to CO2. It's due to massive construction and the heat island effect. 71 percent of the earth is covered in water. There is no water shortage nor will there ever be.

Those that want control over your lives are the one's perpatrating these myths. It's all very simple. Just follow the money. I refuse to be brainwashed!

Hi Susan, I believe the crisis is already here. I travel extensively and see it. When the water stops coming out of our taps THEN people will start getting realistic.

I see guys at the gym shaving and just leave the water running full blast during the process-I want to hit them upside their heads! I have seen women in Africa walking all day for that amount of water wasted-it makes me sick! Sorry you hit one of my buttons! LOL

Maybe it just won't matter.  With all the greed, pollution, hate, killing, etc. we as a human species will self destruct and destroy ourselves with the planet. That's the other side of darkness ... and some ribbing humor on a Sunday morning. 

Susan,

Wow, I think there are many solutions underway, and Santa Barbara is continuing the desalinization project.  Our water is safe.  A

Hard to say. I think we will see a greater emphasis on conservation efforts, recycling and water treatment. We are certainly seeing the costs of water going up, at least in our area

It already is in terms of cost.

Right now our area is in good shape.  Who know what the future holds.

Mark Twain said, "Whiskey is for drinking over, water is for fighting over."

Think I should be alright for a while. Moving to Chicago and they have Lake Michigan!

I hope not.

It could well be. I like to think the water supply in my community is safe.

It already is in some parts of the world. On Kauai's north shore we have one of the rainiest spots in the world. Our rivers and wells are still a plentiful source.

We're good here.  More people will lead to more hatred and envy.  The have nots won't stand for the have having more.  Marshall law will eventually prevail.  Guns will be taken away.  Survival of the fittest will return.  Dictators will be the norm.  Slavery will return and it won't be base on race, color or creed.  Famine will be prevalent.  I was told and it makes sense that people are just a virus growing on the earth.  Over population will be the death of civilization unless a meteor beat us to it.

I sure hope not, California has sure been hit hard.

Very worrisome even though our country has five Great Lakes and the mighty Mississippi River & all its tributaries.

There is a very strong possibility of this happening.

That is really hard to say because of all the filtration seetups on the market today

I agree with the multiple comments above that this has already happened or is underway. 

In Jodan there is less and less water under the ground. Much discussion to haul melted iceberg from polar regions.   

Each person consumes 5.6 billion gallons of waste water in ones life time.

Already is.

I cannot comment on the water safety as I am not a qualified water expert.  The water source in my area is Lake Ontario and it is treated by the City of Toronto.

In generations to come YES to your question. For now, it is a commodity and a money making item...Sources of good food and water will become more valuable than GOLD and he who has it....will rule

We may have to do like The Martian and make our own water.   I can't say we won't have a water shortage, but it's going to be an expensive challenge to keep the water we have clean enough for consumption.

There are natural weather cycles; not global warming.  Well planned water storage would make a whole lot of sense. 

Lets face it we all need clean fresh water.  Will there be a shortage, I don't think so but time will tell.  

At the moment it is fine, but with all the fertilizer, weed killer etc being put on lawns there are spots of trouble here.

Maybe the real estate students are onto something with the recent and often repetitive questions about water.    

Seriously, water is a concern given the examples you have cited.   I think the issues have given more prominence to the handling and safety of water in all communities.