Dry Down Under

Australia has been known for many things. Due to its seemingly barren and unforgiving landscape, it was a notorious British penal colony. Its Great Barrier Reef is a natural wonder, and Australia’s underground endowment of uranium is an object of envy. But Australia has never been rich in water.

Now, confronted with a 100-year drought that is driving thirsty poisonous snakes into cities, and threatened by a parched future, Australian officials have their backs against the wall of shortage.

“These are ugly decisions, but you either drink water or you die. There’s no choice. It’s liquid gold, it’s a matter of life and death,” said Peter Beattie, premier of the northeastern state of Queensland.

Liquid gold, indeed. A worldwide debate has ebbed and flowed with the political tide over recent years as urban populations skyrocket yet freshwater supplies remain fixed. Irrigation techniques used since the time of the ancient Egyptians have come under intense scrutiny, and the back-and-forth touches on everything from wealth distribution to biofuel cultivation.

Energy and Capital