Earth: Fixing Pakistan's water woes

Pakistan is facing tremendous water issues. This summer's flooding has left millions of people without homes and without access to clean drinking water. But water issues - both quantity and quality - are not new to this strategically important country. Waterborne diseases account for 30 percent of all deaths in Pakistan, and kill some 250,000 children each year. Per capita water availability in Pakistan is less than one-ninth of what it is in the U.S. And what's more, researchers say if Pakistan doesn't manage its water resources differently, it's going to actually run out of water. This month, EARTH magazine explores the various facets of Pakistan's water issues.

The October cover story "Fixing Pakistan's Water Woes: Impossible Odds, Irrepressible Hope," focuses on the critical work being conducted jointly by the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Geological Survey, Pakistani scientists, and foreign aid groups to better understand the hydrology of the region, and to secure a better future for Pakistan's people.

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Provided by American Geological Institute