Water shortage comes down to corporations

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/02/water-shortage-comes-down-to-corporations

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Alok Jha’s observations about water (Wasting water is a luxury we can no longer afford, 29 May) open up a very important public debate. What needs to be taken into account is the way in which corporations like Coca-Cola are exacerbating water shortages worldwide. It takes three litres of water to make one litre of Coke. Research by War on Want found that Coke bottling plants had a serious impact on water availability for local communities in the Indian states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. If this is multiplied across all soft drink manufacturers, their water footprint is likely to be enormous. 

These soft drink and bottled water producers are determined to commodify one of the most essential needs of life and make huge profits out of it. Equally, for reasons that are confounding, local and central governments in many developing countries have given up providing decent potable water for their citizens. Over decades, the World Bank has pushed for the privatisation of water rather than enabling a decent supply that is publicly owned and non-profit making. These contradictions do make planning for water supply to meet the needs of humanity all the more challenging.Saleh MamonCarshalton, Surrey

• Water is indeed a precious resource which we need to preserve and protect for human survival. Entire civilisations have disappeared due to water shortage. There have been predictions that countries will go to war for a share of water resources. However, it is not increased water consumption among human beings that is a problem. The biggest waste of water comes from the billions of animals raised for meat. Almost 40% of the world’s fresh water resources are used up in raising almost 85 billion animals every year. Add to that the amount of water used up to grow crops to feed the animals. Over-grazing spreads deserts which reduces rainfall and the massive clearing of rainforests in South America for cattle ranching is already impacting countries with reduced rainfall, an example being the US state of California. Our planet simply does not have the resources to support 6.5 billion human beings (which will grow to 9.5 billion by 2050) as well as those animals. A plant-based vegetarian and vegan diet is of vital importance for future generations.Nitin MehtaLondon