Global Water Shortages

In the Middle East, the supply of underground water shared by Israel and the Palestinians looms as a major - if little-known - obstacle to peace. Disputes over water rights, rarely visible in international politics, are increasingly cropping up around the globe. But there is no universally accepted code governing access to water, despite numerous attempts to write one. Many countries face chronic water shortages due to intense population growth. In the United States, there is longstanding friction over use of the Colorado River, as well as other interstate water squabbles. With few practical technological solutions available to increase water supplies, experts are looking at ways to reduce demand, including conservation measures and making consumers pay the true cost of the water they use.