Kate Thompson [02/03/2006]

To the editor:Recently I wrote you a letter of concern about large-scale groundwater withdrawal in New Hampshire, and listed key bills coming up in legislative committees. Id like to add some background information.Worldwide, water consumption now doubles every 20 years, twice the rate of population increase. A quarter of the worlds people have no access to clean drinking water. One-half to two-thirds of humanity could experience severe freshwater shortages within 25 years. Aquifers in China, Africa, Europe and our own Midwest are being pumped faster than they can recharge. American cities Phoenix, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle are running out of water.Control of water is up for grabs. In an age of economic globalization, governments often no longer defend the public interest. Huge multi-national corporations, armored by protective law, are commodifying seeds, genes, and water. Once considered a human right, water was officially made a "need" at the 2000 World Water Forum, convened by big business lobbyists.The bottled water industry is monopolized by a few corporations (Veolia, Suez, RWE/Thames Water, Nestle, Coca-Cola) and is one of the fastest-growing and least regulated in the world. Twenty-five percent of bottled water is consumed outside its country of origin. No withdrawal fee is generally paid. Bottled water costs up to 1,000 times more than tap water and is poorly regulated for purity. NRDC found contaminants in one-third of brands tested. Billions of plastic bottles are manufactured and discarded annually, with outgassing and leaching consequences.New Hampshires water resource has been discovered. I hope New Hampshire people have the common sense and determination to make sure we protect our own fresh water for all of us then work to help our federal government and others across the world wake up and act. Is free international trade more important than health, fairness, life itself?