Water Water Everywhere.

• Author: Conaway, Janelle
• Position: Brief Article

In northwestern Brazil, droughts have at times led to severe hardships and major migrations. In parts of the Caribbean, the construction of hotels and resorts has put a strain on the drinking-water supply. In Central America, flooding caused by Hurricane Mitch destroyed water-treatment facilities, threatening public health.

Water, in short, is a concern for countries throughout the hemisphere, which is why several hundred water managers, academics, technical experts, representatives of nongovernmental organizations, and others are gathering in Panama March 21-25 for the Third Inter-American Dialogue on Water Management. The meeting, organized around the theme "Facing the Emerging Water Crisis in the Twenty-first Century," is part of a broad effort in the Americas to increase cooperation on water issues, many of which transcend national boundaries.

"Water is a renewable resource. At the same time, there's a fixed amount available at any point in time," said David Moody of the OAS-based Inter-American Water Resources Network (IWRN), which is cosponsoring the meeting with the government of Panama.

Though water covers three-fourths of the earth's surface, only...