Water History
Significant Figures by Peter Gleick
Category archives for Water History
A Step toward Fixing the Colorado River
Posted by Peter Gleick on May 10, 2013 The Colorado River, recently named America’s most endangered river, supports millions of people in the American Southwest and northwest Mexico and helps irrigate millions of acres of land. It is shared by seven states in the U.S. and Mexico, through a complex series of legal agreements and treaties. Yet every drop of water on the river…
Three people, three days in the desert, 7 gallons of water
Posted by Peter Gleick on March 31, 2013 There’s nothing like spending time in the desert to make one appreciate water. It might seem strange to some that a water wonk like me spends considerable time in the desert. I’ve tried to go down to the vast Southern California desert for some time every year, typically in the spring when the winter cold is receding…
World Water Day 2013
Posted by Peter Gleick on March 21, 2013 Some thoughts for today: the bad news and good news for World Water Day. [First, I think every day should be World Water Day, not just March 22nd, but hey, that’s just me.] Stop taking your tap water for granted. Go to your tap, draw a glass of water, and drink it. Then remember that…
Water at the Movies: 2013 Update
Posted by Peter Gleick on March 20, 2013 Water is a theme that runs through all forms of popular culture, from books to myths to Hollywood and international films, with a growing number of shorter video pieces posted online at YouTube and similar sites. Having trouble keeping your Netflix list populated? Below are some classic (good and bad) movies – good and bad…
200 Years of Dr. John Snow: A Significant Figure in the World of Water
Posted by Peter Gleick on March 11, 2013 In a previous post here, I discussed the scourge of cholera – a waterborne disease largely vanquished in the wealthier nations by our water and wastewater treatment systems. Unfortunately, it remains widespread and lethal. Cholera is perhaps the most common and serious water-related disease, directly associated with the failure to provide safe drinking water and…