25th March 1999

Global Water Shortages

face: if you face a difficulty, you have to deal with it

launching: they have started it working

charged with: its job is to

equation: there are two parts to the problem: people and water. They must be considered together before the whole situation can be understood

Verbal conflicts: attacks in the media

erupted: broken out

access: deciding who is allowed to use the water

The Commission’s first task will be to find ways of making desalination - removing salt from sea water - cheaper and more effective. It will also develop techniques to locate and tap underground water reservoirs, and introduce water recycling in cities and villages world-wide. Mr Serageldin said these goals must be achieved by 2025. Otherwise, he warned, the inevitable alternatives were famine and water wars.

task: a piece of work that must be done

locate: discover or find

tap: make use of

recycling: processing water so it can be used again

water wars: actual wars involving fighting