Every year more people die from unsafe drinking water than from all forms of violence, including war. Global demand continues to rise, with a large part of humanity, some 25 percent, living with water scarcity.  It is a crisis that is only becoming more severe.  This course surveys the factors that are driving this dire situation, such as rapidly expanding world population, increase in diet and lifestyle demands (with a resulting impact on agriculture and electricity), growing impact of urbanization, climate change and water pollution.  It also examines the politics and policies available to navigate this difficult environment, including technology (desalination, wastewater reuse and drip-irrigation), markets (start-ups, pricing and business ethics), and sustainable development (empowering women and building state-capacity).  Students this semester also will participate in World Water Day activities around Washington, DC (e.g. film festivals and think tank talks).