Most of you are aware of the current severe drought situation in southeastern US. A lot of people in the southwestern US have been experiencing the drought for several years now. Some of these areas have their groundwater and surface water resources on the verge of exhaustion. In a recent study, researchers from Sand Diego have calculated that Lake Mead, which impounds the Colorado River near Las Vegas and supplies drinking water to most of Arizona and Nevada, could go dry in 13 years if the current climate change trend and indiscriminate use of water continues. Incidentally, these are some of the fastest growing regions in the US as well.When all fresh drinking water runs out, what will we turn to? There are already plans afoot to turn your own toilet waste into drinking water! Orange county in California approved a plan last year to recycle sewage into drinking water (link, link). It’s not as bad as it sounds – this recycled water may be fairly safe to drink. Eventually, we’ll face similar shortages of fresh water right here in in our neighborhood (think Atlanta). Will you be prepared to drink out of your toilet (not literally)? What do you think will lead to such shortages? Can we learn any lessons from the problems in the Southwest?