We owe our planet-home reasonable and responsible behavior that complies with the laws of nature.  As the most prolific and unnatural species on earth, are we facing our realities? 

The latest warning signs manifest at Lake Lanier, Georgia.  If ever a wake-up call, the vanishing waters of the lake portend water shortages for five million people--today.  Nonetheless, the Peach State expects to grow from nine million people in 2007 to 16.4 million by 2050.  Hello!  Anybody with a brain at home?

Rampant population growth

With blinders fully in place, we pursue rampant population growth with no concern toward future generations.   Big surprise— people need water to survive.

The World Health Organization reports, in 2006, "Thirty-five percent of humanity doesn't have access to clean drinking water."

Short answer: no.

 "Is a multibillion-dollar tax hike that could boost water bills as much as 50 percent again hanging over New York City?" New York Post writer Carl Campanile said.  "The threat comes from the impact of three large upstate real-estate development projects bordering reservoirs that feed the city's drinking-water supply."

Campanile reported, "The state's watershed inspector general, Robert Tierney, raised red flags over these projects:

* A 2,000-acre Catskill Park resort complex surrounding Belleayre Mountain Ski Center could pollute the Ashakon and Pepacton reservoirs.

* A 273-unit housing development and mall in Putnam County could increase pollution in the Croton Reservoir.

* A 104-lot subdivision - also in Putnam - could have a deleterious effect on the Muscott Reservoir.

"These projects are deemed important to upstate economic development.  But at what cost to the city?"

Humans and wildlife stand at risk.

Capanile said, "Pollution, sure to be generated by the developments, likely will - prompt the federal Environmental Protection Agency to force New York City to build a water-purification complex costing billions to construct and hundreds of millions annually to operate."

"These costs would be passed directly to property owners.   That would mean hugely inflated water-tax bills for single-family homeowners - particularly in residential Queens and Brooklyn."

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