Introduction
Water is a critical need to maintain the life of people, but humanity is faced with a lack of resources. Although water is technically a renewable resource, the scarcity problem is severe in the United States for several reasons. First, climatic changes lead to a decrease in precipitation, which slows the restoration of water levels (Heggie, 2020). Second, rising average temperatures worldwide lead to faster water evaporation (Heggie, 2020). Thirdly, with an increase in the population, water demand and consumption are growing (Heggie, 2020). Even though water often seems to people to be an endless resource, its shortage is significant, and measures are needed to solve the problem.
Discussion
People use various sources of water, including surface and underground. Falling surface water levels and increasing pollution are causing higher demand for groundwater. However, such switching can have negative consequences without proper regulation. In particular, the consumption of groundwater leads to land subsidence, which can be dangerous for humans and ecosystems (U.S. Geological Survey [USGS], 2018). Moreover, all water systems of the planet are interconnected, and pumping groundwater may lead to saltwater penetration and, subsequently, deterioration in quality (USGS, 2018). Given the dangers, it is essential to develop measures that will slow down or stop the disappearance of fresh water.
The government can influence the problem of water shortages and contribute to its solution. First, it is necessary to encourage and support research by scientists whose activities aim to solve various aspects of the problem. For example, there are studies of ways to decrease water pollution, desalinate saltwater, and reduce the pace of climate change. Second, water infrastructure repair is needed, as frequent breakdowns lead to water losses in the U.S. (Heggie, 2020). Third, additional regulations are required to reduce agricultural water consumption. This sector is a primary consumer, and a decrease in volume of only two percent can partly undo the damage caused to water systems (Heggie, 2020).
Conclusion
Thus, although the problem of scarcity is quite severe, it is crucial to take measures to solve it since they can improve the situation.
References
Heggie, J. (2020). Why is America running out of water? National Geographic. Web.
U.S. Geological Survey. (2018). Groundwater decline and depletion. Web.