Resumo

AGUDELO C, Ruth Marina. Water. Rev. Fac. Nac. Salud Pública [online]. 2005, vol.23, n.1, pp.91-102. ISSN 0120-386X.

Availability of water becomes more critical and complex from day to day all over the world due to the contamination of this hydric resource, its economical manipulation and its meaning as a source of power for those who own it. The growing demand of water for agriculture, industry and domestic consumption has created competitions which will become more protruding in the next 15 years, owing to the increase in population and to the lack of planning, education and conscience for a wise management and use of it. All of these provoke consequences such as acid grounds, huge amounts of sediments in rivers and lakes, digestive diseases derived from its consumption, and abortion and genetic malformations due to the presence of heavy metal loads in water. The oversized ambition of some economic groups interested in an excessive exploitation of natural resources such as oil, gas and drinkable water make the latter to be a strategic resource in the 21st century, since it is an essential, unique and irreplaceable element that must be preserved for the survival of humankind. In this critical essay the social, political and economic aspects of water are discussed, as it is now envisioned for the near future.

Palavras-chave : Fresh water; water pollution; water shortage; water resources.

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