Educational Media Reviews Online

Water is essential to our survival and all life on planet earth, yet we hardly give it any thought where it comes from or how we use it. We – meaning those of us humans in industrialized parts of the world where drinking water comes out of a faucet and wastewater goes down a drain. There is much more to know and explore. This film shows how our need for and control of water has shaped history, secured powers, and furthered the scientific development necessary to manage water supply.

This documentary is an adaption of Dr. Michael Webber’s book, Thirst for Power: Energy, Water, and Human Survival. It explains the interconnection of water and energy by going back to the Roman Empire and culminating at a modern water treatment plant in the United States. The author takes us on a trip to France to visit the ancient Roman aqueduct bridge, Pont du Gard. This massive aqueduct not only lead water from a spring in a small village to the city of Nimes, it also was the crucial resource of economic and military power that made this Roman settlement of 50,000 inhabitants possible. From this remarkable achievement in engineering we go on to visit the sewers of Paris and London. With the use of water comes wastewater, and with a growing population comes an increasing demand for industrial sewage treatment. While we have managed to improve sanitation, we are now caught in a powerful cycle. Our water supply network requires an enormous amount of energy, and the production of energy requires an enormous amount of water. At the same time, we are forever moving water into deserts to expand municipalities, causing droughts in the areas of the water’s origin. We are constantly wasting and misusing water, whether directly or indirectly by our use of energy.

The documentary effectively intertwines anecdotes and comments with more in-depth explanations by scientists. Thus, we gain vital insights into the interdependence of water and energy and what this means for us, our society, and our survival. This documentary will heighten awareness of the impact of modern lifestyles on water quality and essential ecosystems. The simple act of turning on a light switch will have a new meaning.