Includes bibliographical references (p. 341-400) and index.

Part I. The Crisis. 1. Atlanta's prayer for water -- 2. Wealth and the culture of water consumption -- 3. Our thirst for energy -- 4. Fouling our own nests -- 5. The crisis masked -- Part II. Real and surreal solutions. 6. Business as usual -- 7. Water alchemists -- 8. The ancient mariner's lament -- 9. Shall we drink pee? -- 10. Creative conservation -- 11. Water harvesting -- 12. Moore's law -- Part III. A new approach. 13. The enigma of the water closet -- 14. The diamond-water paradox -- 15. The steel deal -- 16. Privatization of water -- 17. Take the money and run -- 18. The future of farming -- 19. Environmental transfers -- 20. The buffalo's lament -- Conclusion : a blue print for reform -- Epilogue : The Salton Sea. Deep in the Mojave Desert sits Las Vegas where a torrent of water flows freely in massive fountains, pirate lagoons, wave machines, and casinos. Meanwhile, across the country in places that are not particularly dry or hot, communities, farmers, and factories are struggling to find water, and even running out altogether. From the Vegas Strip to faux snow in Atlanta, from our supersized bathrooms to mega-farms, from billion-dollar water deals to big time politics and personalities, this book tells the stories of extravagances and waste that are sucking the nation dry. Our water woes will only grow with new demands for this forgotten resource. Take Washington's love affair with biofuels: it will turn to heartbreak once America realizes that thousands of gallons of water are required to produce one gallon of fuel. Glennon argues that we cannot engineer our way out of the problem with the usual fixes or the zany, but very real, schemes to tow icebergs from Alaska or divert the Mississippi River to Nevada.