Water, Water, Everywhere—Which Drop Should be Drunk?

With urbanisation growing rapidly worldwide, the significance of urban water consumption is also increasing. The “Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner” by S. T. Coleridge describes the plight of a mariner stranded at sea surrounded by water, without a drop to drink. At present, responses to the ‘global water crisis’ have been dominated by a technocratic approach in which there is no source of water, however putrid, salty or frozen which cannot be remedied for human use. Sewerage can be recycled, sea water desalinated, and ice caps transported and melted—all to a standard technically safe for human consumption. However, this technocratic approach denies the limits of global water resources. It provides a bandaid solution which only delays the need for a paradigm shift to embrace a truly sustainable approach to the management of water resources. In a sense these technocratic approaches are easy. They do not place any burden on human behaviour to change the way we use, view or value water. It is time to move to a new water paradigm which recognises the limits and intrinsic value of water and responds accordingly. Such an approach would move from an anthropocentric supply side focus to one of demand management and resource conservation in line with sustainability. The proposed paradigm requires more human commitment. But is this possible? It is possible for two reasons. Firstly, it is human nature to want a happy, healthy and long life. Secondly, human beings are intelligent and have a great capacity for understanding and rationality. Juries in the judicial systems of most democratic countries are an example of our faith in human judgement when faced with the facts. When an individual is provided information to understand the fragility of their water supply and the environmental consequences of the various options presented to them, a sustainable approach will prevail. It is in each individual’s interest. However, this human capacity for change is often questioned, in particular by government authorities. There have been an increasing and diverse number of responses to the ‘global water crisis’. In the majority these responses aim to achieve ‘sustainable water resource management’. However, a major barrier in the achievement of this aim is the absence of a common interpretation of the concept of sustainability. The interpretation of the concept varies from stakeholder to stakeholder and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Further barriers are posed by the lack of adequate guidance and a uniform approach to the measurement of sustainability. It must be acknowledged that there are two distinct scenarios to this ‘water crisis’ which will each require a different approach to their management. One scenario is that of