Water

The earth is 71% covered by water Earth is the only planet known to have water in all three phases (gas, liquid, and solid) It never disappears, as it is perfectly recycled Our Wonderful Water World A solar-powered water world! A water shortage?  With a planet covered in water?  With perfect solar powered recycling taking place constantly?  HOW can one claim that water is a resource in crisis? The Water Cycle Perfect recycling Ecclesiastes 1:7  All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again    Ocean water 97.2% Polar Ice 2.15% 97.2 + 2.15 = 99.35%  65% of global water supply is the amount generally available for human use The problem with water…  uneven distribution… some areas have too much water, others much less than necessary  And when it is present, the water is often in a condition that makes it unacceptable for specific uses… e.g salty or polluted or full of sediment The approximate location of the 100th Meridian… the traditional dividing line between the humid east and the arid west Water Laws… east vs west  East of the 100th Meridian in the US, water is generally abundant  The law governing water allocation in the East is the same as in Europe… the Riparian doctrine  West of the 100th Meridian, water is governed by an entirely different set of assumptions Prior Use doctrine or APPROPRIATION DOCTRINE The background…  Spanish water law emphasized the need for fair division of the available water.  All water was owned by the king While the water rights of individuals were to be protected, the rights of the community weighed more heavily than those of the individual.   English water law was relatively simple being formed where water was abundant and conflicts over its use rare.  The navigable waters of England belonged to the Crown and were available to the public for the purposes of navigation and fishing.   Rights to the use of waters were held by those who owned the banks of the streams ... Wonderful Water World A solar-powered water world! A water shortage?  With a planet covered in water?  With perfect solar powered recycling taking place constantly?  HOW can one claim that water. .. water.   All water was owned by the king While the water rights of individuals were to be protected, the rights of the community weighed more heavily than those of the individual.   English water. .. between the humid east and the arid west Water Laws… east vs west  East of the 100th Meridian in the US, water is generally abundant  The law governing water allocation in the East is the same