Why develop a detailed history about something as ubiquitous as water? Salzman shows why in this well-written inspection of a resource without which humans could not survive. He covers contemporary legal issues as well as (in the revised edition) the 2016 debacle in Flint, Michigan. He discourses about science, economics, human history, and public policy at length. Through adept writing, he makes the mundane and overlooked to become interesting and critical. To the curious reader, he offers a look at an environmental issue of importance that barely receives notice of the average citizen.

Salzman bookends his book with the tale of a small California town targeted by Nestle for a water plant. This dying town’s leadership sought a bottled-water facility as a way to restore economic health. However, many in the town rebelled from their leadership for environmental reasons. The economic-versus-environment motif played out through the courts, and Nestle eventually withdrew its plans. While many citizens saw this as a victory, the town council still has no other plans to aid the region’s economic health.

Controversies such as this will likely take place with increasing rapidity in America in coming decades. America’s water infrastructure is aging, and public funds, required in the billions of dollars, are lacking. Worse, public interest is also lacking – something that Salzman, a law professor and environmental policy wonk, seeks to combat.

Finding healthy water sources and providing water treatment has been an integral part of human society since the Romans, as the author delineates. Public attention often passes despite the issue’s obvious importance. Water infrastructure in the developed world is surprisingly still vulnerable to fears of terrorism. An expanding society means an increasing need of water, yet few politicians attend to such concerns.

This book should gain the attention of those interested in public policy. Hopefully, it will also grab the attention of informed citizens and their leaders. It brings interest to a topic that is, as the author convincingly persuades, worthy of such. This work focuses on the social impacts yet provides scientific detail of involved elements. As such, Salzman’s words can access a wide audience. Hopefully, the world need not repeat scenarios like Flint, Michigan, to realize the importance of attending to these matters. ( )

Rating of 4.8. A well explained history of drinking water. Includes documentation and discussion of the Flint, MI crisis. ( )

"Deadlines on toxic chemicals ignored" (madison.com)

"High court asked to rule on water disputes" (madison.com)

"DRINKING WATER/TRUAX BASE CONTAMINATION - Stronger protections sought" (madison.com)

"DRINKING WATER/CAN IT BE MADE SAFE?" (Associated Press)

"How sewage plants help spread toxic PFAS across the landscape" (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality)

'PFAS toxin poses threat" (madison.com)

"EPA to act on PFAS in water" (madison.com)

Update on June 2nd, 2019 = "Safe drinking water a challenge in Texas"

"All that money wasted on another crazy space trip
when so many people here on earth can't afford water, food, or shelter.

The cost of water has gone up again.
And I heard on the news that more water peddlers are being killed."

- Octavia Butler

Salzman's DRINKING WATER is yet another life-changer,
from all the horrors of what we did not do when alerted in the last century
to a new place to donate money that can actually help people to survive. ( )

The infrastructure of water in the US, and elsewhere, is vital but often underrated (this book was written before the disaster in Flint became national news). Salzman provides a brief history of water infrastructure, as well as a history of bottled water and the interaction between the two. Bottled water is in fact really, really old, and traces at least part of its origin from religious relics from sacred springs; now it’s “natural” and similar meaningless words and images in which we put our faith, even though most bottled water is no better and sometimes worse than most tap water. Salzman suggests that we have some expensive times ahead when it comes to securing clean drinking water—and he also says that it can be very hard to get people to stop drinking dirty water when it’s so expensive to fix. People who either have to travel two hours round trip to get water from the clean well or take a chance with the dirty well nearby will often do the latter, and it’s hard to say that they’re being ridiculous given the many costs involved. Long trips for water in the developing world particularly interfere with women’s education and ability to earn money. In the US we don’t usually have to worry about safe drinking water—but unless we start spending a bunch more money on infrastructure, Salzman warns, we will, as we’ve already seen in Flint. ( )

Several reviewers compared this one to Kurlansky's Salt, which filled me with dread when I cracked open this book. Luckily, while Salzman says he was inspired by Kurlansky, this book reads nothing like Salt. Drinking Water is well organized and well written. Salzman provides a very balanced approach to the topic and explains contentious issues (private vs. public good) with equal weight given to each side. He makes good use of recent examples (The Marcellus Shale being of particular interest to me) to further explore what we really mean and think when we talk about "safe" and "clean" water. The book ends with a chapter on new technologies and hopes for ensuring access to clean water for generations to come. I would definitely recommend this book. ( )