The University of Michigan's LSA Water Theme Semester is offering two presentations this week that examine water issues from our backyard in Ann Arbor, with local panelists and an exploration of global water shortages perpective from journalist and author Charles Fishman.

On Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m., there will be a Panel Discussion, "Our Water, Our Future: A Local Panel" at the Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown Branch. The panelists include:

• Harry Sheehan, Senior Environmental Manager, Office of the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner (storm water);
• Molly Wade, City of Ann Arbor, Water Treatment Services (drinking water)
• Matt Naud, City of Ann Arbor Environmental Coordinator (ground water)
• Laura Rubin, Executive Director, Huron River Watershed Council (surface water)
• Earle Kenzie, City of Ann Arbor, Wastewater Treatment Services Manager (waste water)
• Mike Wiley, U-M School of Natural Resources, Moderator

As clean drinking water becomes increasingly hard to find in many places around the globe, it makes sense to look closely at our local water supply and to consider the issues that may affect it in the future. Local water experts will discuss the challenges facing our local water systems and what their organizations are doing to plan for the future. Issues affecting the future management of storm, drinking, ground, surface, and wastewater will be discussed.

This event is sponsored by 2011 LSA Water Theme Semester.

Then on Wednesday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rackham Amphitheatre, 915 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor, author Charles Fishman will provide a public lecture on "The Big Thirst: The Fate of Water in the Modern World."

Water is the story of the new century. In the U.S., the Golden Age of Water — in which we view water as naturally abundant, dependable, safe, and cheap — is coming to an end. And we’re in for a rude shock.

We are entering an era of water scarcity — and not just in “dry” places like the U.S. Southwest and the Middle East. In this talk, Fishman helps us see water in a new, and urgent, light. He circles the globe to tackle everything from municipal delivery of water, to the vast but fragile network of water supplies for agriculture and industry, to the entry of corporations into the world of supplying water.

How are businesses trying to create safe supplies and make money? And how does this affect you? In the future, how will we get water? How will we distribute it, use it, pay for it?

In a thorough and enthralling talk, Fishman shows you how the new “water economy” will reshape global economics, global politics, the g global food supply — and the way we live. Charles Fishman is a journalist and author of "The Wal-Mart Effect."

Advance copies of Fishman's forthcoming book, The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water will be available for purchase at a book-signing following the lecture. This free public lecture is sponsored by: Graham Environmental Sustainability Institute, the Center for Global Health, and the 2011 LSA Water Theme Semester.

Nancy Stone is the Communications Liaison for Public Services at the City of Ann Arbor. She can be reached at nstone@a2gov.org. Visit http://www.a2gov.org for more information on local environmental topics including recycling, composting, water conservation, and choices for green living.

Your World provides local environmental information to our community. Contributing partners include: Washtenaw County’s Environmental Health Division; the nonprofit Recycle Ann Arbor; the City of Ann Arbor’s Public Services Area, Natural Area Preservation, Systems Planning programs for Energy, Environmental Coordination, Solid Waste, Transportation, and Water Resources.