Where we've been

Finding a reliable water resource has always been a major part of civilization building because it is such a basic need. In the past, people usually built up cities near water sources and when faced with the problems we are currently facing, they would either cart in more water, drink poor quality water, or move.

Shipping in clean water is a pretty old idea, arguably dating back to the idea of irrigation or agricultural fields, where it was discovered that water could be moved from where it was (in streams and rivers) to where is was needed (fields). This idea was first really acted upon by the Romans with their aqueduct system that brought fresh water in from surrounding areas. This is the common solution in many countries still, but higher demand in regions that have in the past been suppliers has made this a less viable option in recent years.

Drinking bad water has been a common solution throughout much of our history, but is also a major factor in shortened lifespans. This is a problem that first began getting addressed on a large scale with the discovery that diseases could be waterborne. In response to this, places with the money and energy to do so began to treat water to remove harmful materials. At the same time, efforts were made to try to remove these materials through additives or various distillation or filtration methods in areas that did not have the money, energy, or infrastructure for large scale treatment facilities.