ABSTRACT
States are said to have a duty to preserve water resources for future use and ensure its continued availability.* Demand for fresh water is continually increasing, and supplies are dwindling.† As we move into the future, we are likely to see a shift toward new sources. Some of these sources are more promising than others.‡ Even so, we have a limited supply of suitable fresh water, and it is not evenly dispersed among the several states. This creates problems for planners and likely means that we will eventually be forced to look to the oceans in order to meet future needs.§ Unfortunately, the saline content of the ocean’s water makes it necessary to treat the water first in order to make it suitable for use. This can be expensive and time consuming.
