Since we are too busy focusing on the instigated problems of the US president, we have no time or room to consider real problems that predate Trump. The World Economic Forum has long noted a key long term risk facing we earthlings – a global water crisis. So an article by Damian Carrington in The Guardian caught my eye last week, which was almost missed because of Trump’s gestapo like tactics in Minneapolis.

The article is entitled “Era of ‘global water bankruptcy’ is here, UN report says.’ The subtitle does not ease the pain of the announcement – “Overuse and pollution must end urgently as no one knows when whole system might collapse, says expert.”

Here are a few paragraphs that tell some of the story: “The world has entered an era of ‘global water bankruptcy’ that is harming billions of people, a UN report has declared.

The overuse and pollution of water must be tackled urgently, the report’s lead author said, because no one knew when the whole system could collapse, with implications for peace and social cohesion.

All life depends on water but the report found many societies had long been using water faster than it could be replenished annually in rivers and soils, as well as over-exploiting or destroying long-term stores of water in aquifers and wetlands.

This had led to water bankruptcy, the report said, with many human water systems past the point at which they could be restored to former levels. The climate crisis was exacerbating the problem by melting glaciers, which store water, and causing whiplashes between extremely dry and wet weather.

Prof Kaveh Madani, who led the report, said while not every basin and country was water bankrupt, the world was interconnected by trade and migration, and enough critical systems had crossed this threshold to fundamentally alter global water risk.

The result was a world in which 75% of people lived in countries classified as water-insecure or critically water-insecure and 2 billion people lived on ground that is sinking as groundwater aquifers collapse.”

I have written several times about our global water crisis. Here are just a few tidbits:

-the retired CEO of Duke Energy often quotes the term “water is the new oil.” Steven Solomon first used this term in his history book called “Water,” which tells of leaders’ abilities to use it wisely or poorly caused the rise and fall of civilization.

-speaking of Duke Energy, they released a report saying that steam powered electricity loses 1% to 2% of the water taken from a river when the heated water is released back to the river.

-fracking for natural gas and oil uses multiple millions of gallons of unreusable water per fracking well. Frackers say this is not a problem, but I have read more than a few articles of frackers and communities fighting over water.

-Cape Town, South Africa had a doomsday clock counting down to the full depletion of water sources. Through dramatic action and needed rain, they were able to stave off the end.

-Saudi Arabia is oil rich and water poor – so much that the leaders ruled Muslims could pray with sand instead of water (that is five times a day of prayers).

-Seven states continue to fight over water rights from the Colorado River. Farmers, communities, power companies, industries, etc, all want their share.

Depleting water aquifers are visible from satellite pictures. This is a huge problem, even before it worsens with climate change and lead piping concerns. And, that same Duke Energy report said their reservoirs are predicted to lose 11% more water to evaporation resulting from climate change. Steam power needs water to run.