Who needs sustainability?

Three inescapable factors face us at the turn of the century. First, the climate, and with it the supply of water, is becoming more variable. Regardless of whether this variability is the result of man-made global warming, it seems to be with us. Secondly, demand for water will increase; in many countries domestic water use is currently less than 25 1/personday and needs to increase if living conditions are to improve. In Great Britain, per capita use of water is low compared with many other western countries - including those that pay for water on a metered basis - and it is certain to rise as living standards improve. Thirdly, concern for the environment is likely to increase. We can counter the first problem only by ensuring that we have adequate water storage; most water storage in Great Britain and the rest of the world is in the ground. We need to counter the second by recognizing that the vast majority of public water use is non-consumptive, but that very little waste water is re-used efficiently. We need to counter the third by welcoming the concern but ensuring that the response is sensible. We must be prepared to question some of the accepted wisdom of the environmental movement, and remember that many of the developments in human history were non-sustainable. Do they represent environmental disasters, or human progress?.