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[Descan]

Water as in H2O as in the chemical water is a renewable resource, it passes through you without changing.

Water as in freshwater as in usable water is not renewable, at least not to the extent that California (and much of the world) is using it. Streams, lakes, and aquifers only recharge so fast, and a lot of places (California!) use it faster than the recharge rate.

[redwallzyl]

the great lakes water can not be taken as it all belongs to the native tribes due to some old legal agreements they will never let it be transferred.

[smjjames]

Just importing the water from elsewhere doesn't solve the cause behind WHY we're running out of water, which would be management practices and other stuff.

The drought doesn't help matters either anyway.

[TD1]

There are some lakes that cross the American-Canadian border though, right?

I think?

[Lord Shonus]

the great lakes water can not be taken as it all belongs to the native tribes due to some old legal agreements they will never let it be transferred.

False. Every last drop could be taken as long as the governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin agreed, unanimously. Absent that, you can't even bottle the stuff.

[FearfulJesuit]

Just importing the water from elsewhere doesn't solve the cause behind WHY we're running out of water, which would be management practices and other stuff.

The drought doesn't help matters either anyway.

Canada has a lot of water, and global warming is predicted to increase precipitation in the coming decades. Importing Canadian water to keep the American West going is probably the least bad option.

[Levi]

Absent that, you can't even bottle the stuff.

I don't think you'd want to.  I was under the impression that a lot of those lakes are pretty polluted.   

[Lord Shonus]

Absent that, you can't even bottle the stuff.

I don't think you'd want to.  I was under the impression that a lot of those lakes are pretty polluted.   

It's the primary drinking water for most of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, not to mention a major source of fresh fish. The famous chemical pollution alluded to in early versions of The Lorax is mostly a thing of the past, with the primary environmental concern these days being invasive species and fertilizer-induced algae blooms like the one that caused the Toledo Water Crisis last year. With proper treatment (which any water source needs), it's perfectly good water.

[Levi]

Ah, good to know.

[FearfulJesuit]

You can still set rivers on fire if you try hard enough, I fancy.

[Eric Blank]

Well, if you really want to set "fire to a river", you can always dump potassium in there. Technically its the halides that are burning, but water is also involved in the reaction.

I for one fully endorse building nuclear fission plants all over the place to desalinate sea water.

[TD1]

I would endorse nuclear fusion plants instead.

[Helgoland]

If you truly want burning rivers, replace the atmosphere above it with fluorine gas.

[Putnam]

I would endorse nuclear fusion plants instead.

The main difference being that fission is actually feasible.

Also, has about the same amount of risk.

[TD1]

But less resultant pollutants!