Download or read book The Paradox of Water written by Bhawani Venkataraman and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2023-01-17 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Water is a molecular marvel. Its seemingly simple formula--H2O-- dictates the properties that make water essential for life and easily contaminated. Herein lies the paradox of water: we cannot live without it, but it is easily rendered 'unsafe.' The Paradox of Water explores the intersection of the scientific, social, and policy implications around access to safe drinking water. Drinking water is the smallest fraction of water used by a nation, yet access to safe drinking water supports educational opportunities, helps overcome gender inequities, lowers familial stress, and enables more socially and economically productive uses of time"--