TOWING ICEBERGS TO DROUGHT ZONES

The world is suffering from a freshwater crisis, including many parts of the United States that are experiencing prolonged drought. But could a bizarre potential solution—towing icebergs—help address the problem? Large swaths of the western United States are facing a water crisis because of a megadrought that has lasted more than two decades. Water stress is affecting a number of communities in the country amid drought conditions, and some are being pushed to the brink. One small town—Coalinga in California—is expected to run out of water by the end of the year, while hundreds of homes in the Arizona desert community of Scottsdale could run out by December 1. And the problem is certainly not limited to the United States. Cape Town, South Africa, drew significant attention in 2018 when it calculated that it eventually would run out of water—an event referred to as Day Zero.
Lake Mead—the largest reservoir in the country in terms of water capacity—has shrunk to record lows this year amid the ongoing megadrought. By 2030, global demand for fresh water will exceed supply by 40 percent, United Nations estimates suggest. And even in places with adequate fresh water, millions do not have basic water security because of pollution and poor infrastructure.

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