Harry Kitchen, a Trent University economist argues that water prices in Toronto and other cities need to increase. This is necessary in order to cover the true cost of supplying water and will help to increase water conservation activities.

Reuters

China’s capital started pumping “emergency” water from its long-parched neighbouring province on Thursday, with officials speaking of a “grim” shortfall weeks after the Olympics when they said the city had enough water.

Hebei, which surrounds Beijing, will pump 300 million cubic metres of water to the capital from three dams which usually supply nearby farms, towns and cities, the province water office said on its website (www.hebwater.gov.cn).

The Guardian

Countries across the world will have to dramatically increase investment in dams, pipes and other water infrastructure to avoid widespread flooding, drought and disease even before climate change accelerates these problems, experts have warned.

The Sun Times

An Owen Sound city councillor wants bottled water banned from municipal buildings.

City/county Coun. Arlene Wright has served notice she will introduce such a motion at council’s Sept. 22 meeting. It will call for a ban on plastic water bottles at city-owned buildings such as the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, city hall, the Coliseum, the Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library and Tom Thomson Memorial Art Gallery.

San Francisco Chronicle

We can do more with less. Nations in drier climates around the world and forward-thinking farmers in California already are using less water to grow more crops – with greater profits. It is time for California to implement economic and environmental policies that encourage farmers to use water more efficiently, both for the good of the environment and to sustain a robust agricultural sector.

Tree Hugger

At Expo Zaragoza in Spain, an event that opened in June and is dedicated to bringing awareness to water scarcity issues throughout the world, one of the best exhibits was the Pavilion THIRST. With strong images and simple graphics, this Pavilion first explained who in the world has thirst, concluding that “Everything is thirsty.” But rather than dwelling on the problems, this pavilion showed some innovative design solutions used all over the world to improve how humans our dealing with water issues, whether they be health- or drought-related.

New York Times

The vast amounts of food lost to spoilage and insects in poor countries, and simply tossed in rich ones, also represent an enormous stream of wasted water, according to a new report that calls for big improvements in a world heading toward 9 billion hungry, thirsty mouths.

The Economist

“WATER is the oil of the 21st century,” declares Andrew Liveris, the chief executive of Dow, a chemical company. Like oil, water is a critical lubricant of the global economy. And as with oil, supplies of water—at least, the clean, easily accessible sort—are coming under enormous strain because of the growing global population and an emerging middle-class in Asia that hankers for the water-intensive life enjoyed by people in the West.

The Guardian

The scale of British water consumption and its impact around the world is revealed in a new report today, which warns of the hidden levels needed to produce food and clothing.

The Globe and Mail

London, Ont., could become one of the first cities in Canada to stop selling bottled water in municipal buildings as a growing consumer backlash against the product takes hold across the country.