HUMANS AND WATER: INSEPARABLE!

摘要

I have read Bill Bryson's book "A Short History of Nearly Everything" at least two times and always in awe at the number of planets that he surmises may be suitable for human life. When you listen to the NASA scientists involved with the determination of whether a planet could support human life, the critical determining factor is WATER! Remember the excitement with the Mars Rover? We are inseparable from the resource. The concern is how do we, as water managers, connect people with the water issues of our time? Once water is in a stream or river, it is pretty easy to manage (except maybe flood loss reduction). The major issues are water demand, land use changes (increased impervious cover, loss of forests, etc.), wastewater treatment, and what humans put on the land that will eventually get into a water body. Most people are totally disconnected from the science and management of these issues.