WATER WARS

A factual, objective, and well-organized description of the serious conflicts now arising over water around the world. After briefly outlining facts about the earth's fixed supply of water, Cossi gets right to the reasons for shortages and competition- -uneven distribution and population growth—presenting case studies of two regions in trouble, southern California and the Middle East, and briefly outlining basic conflicts and political and technological efforts to resolve them. Her proposed solutions will be familiar to environmentalists: international economic development (as outlined at the Earth Summit); reduction of pollution and meat consumption (to reduce water demands by cattle); paper recycling to save forests, which store water; etc. Unfortunately, oversimplifications sometimes hamper understanding: Cossi calls clean water an ``endangered species'' and slightly garbles her account of the migration of the Northwest salmon. Boxed ``Water Saver'' tips range from keeping a bottle of water in the refrigerator to investigating local water treatment. A useful advance warning of future conflicts. No illustrations. Chronology of federal legislation; glossary; bibliography; list of organizations; index. (Nonfiction. 12+)