Documentery Review: "Blue Gold: World Water Wars"

 Sam Bozzo's documentary "Blue Gold: World Water Wars," adapted from the book "Blue Gold: The Right to Stop Corporate Theft of The Worlds Water," is a look into the world of water, how it is used, and who controls it. The imbalances in the water cycle that modern societies have created, and many of the solutions proposed, may be setting a scene for a socially unsustainable system in dealing with, what may believe to be, a basic human right.

 To understand problems with water management the first issue that the film addresses is their cause. We all know that fresh water composes a slim percentage of the worlds water source, around 2.5%, and that much of this is quickly, if not already, becoming polluted beyond human use. When this happens surface waters become an unsuitable source, and in response much of the worlds fresh water supply has become dependent on ground water. While in some situations this is a perfectly suitable solution, the levels of groundwater that we, as a human race, are using is outpacing the recharge rates of many of our aquifers. The urbanization of much of the world is working to further hider the ability of these aquifers to recharge and, with population becoming concentrated in the very areas we are draining, this necessitates the import of water to the points of demand. This upsets local water cycles and is resulting in the desertification of many of the earths landscapes, which creates a whole other set of problems. Massive sinkholes are popping up in many major cities where groundwater is heavily relied upon and, in areas where water is exported, the landscape is quickly deteriorating. To truly solve the problem we must eliminate the cause and learn, as a society, to adapt to our water resources rather than adapt these resources to ourselves.

 In an effort to maintain current development and water use practices water is being imported, not only as liquid water but imbedded water, to areas of demand. Imbedded water is the water both contained in goods and associated with the production of them. This documentary takes an in depth look at this phenomenon through bottled water, perhaps the most obvious example of our irrational view of this resource. Not only does bottled water transport liquid water far from the source, but it takes 1.85 gallons of fresh water to manufacture the very bottle that it is contained in. Once that water has left the source it is rarely replaced. The same principal can be applied to food and other products where the water burden is bared by the developing world at almost no cost to the consumer. This constitutes a paradox in many markets where water use is profited upon but the negative effects on water resources are an overlooked externality.

  The privatization of water resources is another issue heavily criticized by the film. As the title "Blue Gold" implies water is seen by many as the new oil and corporations are scrambling to secure as much of it as possible. Typically, this involves poaching the developing worlds water supplies, applying highly technical solutions to areas were much of the population cannot support the cost. This means that if people cannot afford the water, they go thirsty. If your house catches on fire, you have to pay to put it out. If you have no source of income you have to rely on the same surface water that many of the same companies pollute. The public heath cost of having little water or that of poor quality falls on the government while the profits form the provision of clean water go to large, international corporations. Many governments see these deals as attractive, as they provide short term incentives in the form of initial purchase of water rights and often individual benefits for those involved in the deal making, but the long term consequences limit development and standards of living.

 Much as in the previously reviewed "The Big Thirst," "Blue Gold" shows that there needs to be a change in the way the world looks at water and how it is used. Many of the environmental problems of today stem from this issue and their solutions are highly dependent on how we solve it. In order to create a sustainable future we first need to create sustainable systems of use for our most basic resources, water being principal among them. Are we willing to allow water to become increasingly involved in the same system that has created so many of the other problems we are facing today? We should all take a good look at what is happening in this issue and what the outcomes are likely to be.