"Water is the new oil. In the same way that the 1973 oil crisis forced Americans to scrutinize their reliance on fossil fuels, today’s water shortages and rising occurrence of contaminated water supplies are shining a spotlight on our seemingly ubiquitous supply of H20. Only 1 percent of the world’s water supply is easily available for drinking, but much of that is in jeopardy of growing contamination. It’s time to start including water in the national conversation as readily and regularly as we discuss energy. Water is a resource every bit as critical. It needs to be conserved and managed as energetically as we assess global warming, protect the ozone layer, and work to ensure clean air. With a thoughtful combination of planning and new technology, we can do it."