Water scarcity - see the world react

Drought of course is not an uncommon phenomenon. Widespread in the third world and its severe consequences appreciated across the globe, it is only now that the developed world is beginning to feel the impact of worldwide water shortages.

But different areas of the world react in very different ways. In the middle of yet another drought cycle, the residents of the high desert lands of New Mexico, USA have cheerily complied with the state authorities adopting ingenious, eco-friendly water saving measures. Sawdust toilets double up as a composting solution; the term 'xeriscaping' has been coined (and, in true American style, subsequently trademarked by the Denver Water Company), and is now practised by hardy gardeners as they plant out their drought resistant cacti.

An ocean away in the maritime climes of chillier Britain, there's not quite so much discussion about from where the rains come, rolling in as they do quite regularly from across the Atlantic, but rather more muttered concern about to where they have gone? Seeping out of leaking pipes, according to the water industry regulator Ofwat and to the tune of 3.6 billion litres a day in England and Wales alone. Thames Water, the major player in this complacent leak culture, has just declared pre tax profits this year of £346million and is not looking odds on favourite to chair any debate on how most efficiently to manage the distribution of the world's most important scarce resource.

The Mediterranean has experienced a reduction in rainfall of up to 20% whilst at the same time water demand has doubled. Most of this is being drained away by irrigated agriculture, devouring up to 65% of total water consumption. In Egypt scientists are in the forefront of drought resistant crop development. Should the going get tough, they are further prepared to threaten military action against any country upstream that dams the Nile or its tributaries.

Although in the grip of severe drought over the last few years, tourism in southern Spain continues to thrive; with flights to Malaga seeing an increase of 40% this year. But the lush golf greens and sparkling pools that sustain this tourism expansion conceal a growing environmental crisis caused by water shortage, a crisis in which both tourism and agriculture are both fully implicated.

Spain is being sucked dry by illegal water use say the World Wildlife Fund pointing to the Spanish Government's estimate of 510,000 illegal boreholes that are siphoning off Spain's underground water supply. This loss constitutes enough water to provide for around 58 million people a year and is only 25% less than the whole country uses legally.

Meanwhile, if you want to do your bit to conserve water, then make sure that your Friday night chippie has tossed the greedy water guzzling Maris Piper out of his frying pan in favour of the much more efficient Desiree.