Topic: Water Shortage Specific Purpose: To inform the audience about water shortage and how to cope with water scarcity Thesis Statement: Across the globe, reports reveal huge areas in crisis as reservoirs and aquifers dry up. I. INTRODUCTION A. Turning off the water while brushing their teeth, a family could save about 5 to 10 gallons of water per day. B. Freshwater shortage will cause the next great global crisis. C. Today, I would like to talk to you first about why water shortage will create a global crisis; second, how we can cope with water scarcity; and finally, how we can help preserve fresh water. II. BODY A. “Water is the driving force of all nature” Leonardo da Vinci claimed. 1. 80% of earth’s surface is water; 97% of earth’s water is salt water. 2% of earth’s fresh water is frozen in ice caps; and, only 1% of earth’s fresh water is available to consume. 2. Unfortunately for our planet, supplies of water are running dry at an alarming rate. The world’s population continues to soar; but, that rise in numbers has not been matched by an increase in supplies of fresh water. Let’s talk about what is going on around the world; I will mention to you just a few major cities, and show you how they are dealing with water shortage. B. Robin Mackie, science editor of the British newspaper “The Guardian”, states in his article “Why Fresh Water Shortages Will Cause the Next Global Crisis” : 1. The Brazilian city of Sao Paolo, home to 20 million people and once known as