What Most People Don’t Understand About Water Scarcity with James Salzman

Water impacts everything: our food, our health, our cities, and our future. Yet most of us rarely think about where it comes from or who controls it. In this episode of Imagine If, Victoria Riskin sits down with environmental law professor James Salzman to unpack the hidden realities of water in America — from groundwater depletion and bottled water myths to outdated water laws and the future of the Colorado River. They discuss: Why only a small percentage of Earth’s freshwater is easily accessible How agriculture uses roughly 80% of water in the U.S. The truth about bottled water vs. tap water Why almonds became the “bad nut” in water conversations How climate change is reshaping water scarcity The surprising history behind Western water rights Why we should think like “water citizens,” not just water consumers James also shares insights from his book Mine! and the fascinating psychology behind ownership, scarcity, and human behavior. Be part of the Bluedot Living community At Bluedot Living, we imagine if people were actually making progress on climate change—because they actually are. Each episode of Bluedot Living Podcast shares stories of people, policies, and projects that prove your choices matter, from micro decisions at home to macro shifts in law and industry. If you want to explore our recipes, products for your home and lifestyle, and read interesting stories, you can find us BluedotLiving.com For daily inspiration you can follow us @Bluedotliving on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluedotliving/