Trinity Lake, a (former) major water reservoir. Americans tend to take it for granted that when we open a tap, water will come out. <br />Western states have been dealing with water problems for a while, but they won't be alone for long. <br /> <br />As drought, flooding, and climate change restrict America's water supply, demands from population growth and energy production look set to increase, according to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. <br /> <br />These two changes squeeze our natural water reserves from both directions. The stress is becoming clear and will soon manifest as water scarcity problems all over our country. <br /> <br />While the rest of the US hasn't been ordered to reduce water use, that doesn't mean we have a free pass to use as much water as we want. Many states — 4o out of 50 according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office — have at least one region that's expected to face some kind of water shortage in the next 10 years.
