'World water crisis: A challenge to social justice'

Although the earth is awash with water, the world is facing a global water crisis. Global freshwater supplies are dwindling fast. Climate change, rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation, the growth of industries that either pollute water sources or consume vast water volumes like agro-business and hydro generation of power, climate change and our very modern lifestyle are contributing to an increase in demand that outstrips supply. For instance, 'Lake Chad has shrunk to 20% of its size in 1962', and 'one flush of a toilet takes as much water as a person in 30 of the world’s poorest countries'. It is expected that inter-state violent conflict in future will be waged to secure water supplies.

The environmental degradation that is characteristic of many urban areas necessitates water supply networks, and anything in short supply, and therefore high demand, is fodder for profit maximisation. Thus enters water privatisation and its attendant failures.

World Water Crisis: A Challenge to Social Justice brings together articles by various authors from different fields and backgrounds, offering wide perspective on the world water crisis. Including economic, sociological and theological reflections on water, the articles also propose solution to the supply and management of water in ways that address the crisis sustainably.