“Two-thirds of the world’s population will face a lack of water in less than 20 years, if current trends in climate change, population growth, rural to urban migration and consumption continue, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro warned today.”

Yes — and such an outcome can easily be avoided if we price water according to scarcity. The conventional wisdom of setting price to equal delivery cost is no longer wise: Because those prices are “too low,” demand exceeds supply, and shortages result.

Bottom Line: Save the Poor! Charge for water! (Some for free; pay for more.)