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Comment by nomilk | Hacker News Reader

For anyone interested in water and economics, this Econtalk episode is unexpectedly fascinating.

https://www.econtalk.org/david-zetland-on-water/

What blew my mind was how different water economics is from place to place. Availability of water (and the intersection of that with other unexpected factors, like crime) have a huge impact on day to day living. I was surprised by some of the vicious cycles (for example, water 'brown outs' - providing water for limited hours of the day - actually drives up consumption, since people get more than they need and store it for later use, often at great expense). Somewhat analogous to other 'runs' we see, e.g. banking.

It's one of my favourite Econtalk episodes. Highly recommend.

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My favorite extreme example of the ways in which water defines society is the Himba people [1] in northern Namibia. They live in one of the driest deserts in the world and water is so scarce that bathing with water is a social faux pas. Instead of bathing they cover their skin with otjize paste made of animal fat and red ochre which acts as a cleanser, protects them from the heat, and repels insects. When they hunt the men gather the liquid they need for the day by digging up tubers similar to cassava that contain a lot of fiber and moisture, while the women herd their livestock around watering holes until the dry season where they make a b-line for areas with high ground water to dig small wells.

Among other adaptations, they hunt not by driving their pray to exhaustion or by using heavy weapons like spears, but by digging up beetle larva infected by parasitic Lebistina larva which produces a very concentrated toxin that they use with very thin bows and arrows to bring down pray (which they have to chase down anyway).

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himba_people

The toxin doesn't taint the meat?

No, it has to enter the blood stream and it's metabolized or denatured by the time they eat the meat.

They do have to be careful when making the toxin, however, since enough can enter through a cut in the skin to kill an adult.

One interesting experience I had was going to the Middle East. It was the first time I'd ever dealt with water restrictions or even considered my water consumption, which didn't just baffle the Jordanians but also a lot of the other Americans.

I'm from Michigan. Fresh water is so accessible that even restricting its use for environmental purposes just isn't a thing. If we ever run out, the world is already on fire.

Entire societies are only 6 continuous hours of complete water denial away from collapse.

That's just wild to me. Even if our infrastructure collapsed tomorrow, we could all probably get our water needs met. I live within walking distance to a sizeable river - I'd be annoyed if I couldn't buy water anymore but that's about it.

I wonder how things would go if the whole population of your state suddenly needed to dip all their water out of the rivers and lakes?

Back of napkin math suggests that the water in the lake would sustain drinking, hygiene, and daily bathing for all current MI residents for over 10,000 years, so probably fine.

I wasn't thinking so much about the quantity as the anarchic crowds that'd be competing for access to it (and churning up mud, etc...) if it no longer comes through the pipes. I'm not so sure things would be "fine".

They are already taking their water from rivers and lakes, where else would they get it?

You might be over estimating how potable local rivers/streams are without professional treatment.

I know how to treat water and have the supplies I'd need to do it.

You and I may, but I’m skeptical that “we could all” do so. Even a hacked together sand/charcoal filter only goes so far when we’re talking about populations.

Econtalk is a podcast i keep coming back to. Russ Roberts does a great job bringing on a varied group of people. And his interview style is pretty refreshing. He asks questions like a novice would with “Wait, why is it like that?”.

He had a pro-market view but lets his guests state their views before politely saying “i disagree for this reason”, then moving on.

The 16+ years of archives are great to go back and listen to especially the interviews about the financial crisis of 2008. He talks to some heavy hitters in the finance industry and it’s fascinating to hear their different views.

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