Hot Commodity: Exporting Fresh Water

Entrepreneurs press a reluctant Canada to let them sell its abundant eau to a thirsty world

Water has been called the oil of the 21st century. It is in ever shorter supply, and its price is rising in thirsty cities and farming regions from the Middle East to the American West. And what Kuwait is to oil, Canada could be to water. President George W. Bush suggested as much before last month's global economic summit, when he noted that "water will forever be an issue in the U.S., particularly the Western part," and added, "I look forward to discussing this with Prime Minister Jean Chretien."

That raised the hackles of Canadian Environment Minister David Anderson, who snapped...

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