Any solution, according to Rosegrant, must involve both the careful exploitation of new sources of water and strong measures to stimulate more efficient use of water. Policies must treat water not as a free good, as they often do now, but rather as a scarce commodity that comes at a price. In many developing countries irrigation water is essentially unpriced, and in urban areas the price of water does not cover the cost of delivery. Rosegrant points out that sensible and far-sighted methods of managing water resources have been adopted in some areas and have been successful in helping to alleviate water shortages. But such methods will need to become much more widespread if the world is to avoid large-scale conflicts and catastrophes stemming from water shortages.
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