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The Last Drop: Solving the world's water crisis
'Smart, sobering, and scholarly.' - Steve Brusatte, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs
A gripping, thought-provoking and ultimately optimistic investigation into the world’s next great climate crisis - the scarcity of water.
Water scarcity is the next big climate crisis. Water stress – not just scarcity, but also water-quality issues caused by pollution – is already driving the first waves of climate refugees. Rivers are drying out before they meet the oceans and ancient lakes are disappearing. It’s increasingly clear that human mismanagement of water is dangerously unsustainable, for both ecological and human survival. And yet in recent years some key countries have been quietly and very successfully addressing water stress.
How are Singapore and Israel, for example – both severely water-stressed countries – not in the same predicament as Chennai or California?
In The Last Drop , award-winning environmental journalist Tim Smedley meets experts, victims, activists and pioneers to find out how we can mend the water table that our survival depends upon. He offers a fascinating, universally relevant account of the environmental and human factors that have led us to this point, and suggests practical ways to address the crisis, before it’s too late.
A gripping, thought-provoking and ultimately optimistic investigation into the world’s next great climate crisis - the scarcity of water.
Water scarcity is the next big climate crisis. Water stress – not just scarcity, but also water-quality issues caused by pollution – is already driving the first waves of climate refugees. Rivers are drying out before they meet the oceans and ancient lakes are disappearing. It’s increasingly clear that human mismanagement of water is dangerously unsustainable, for both ecological and human survival. And yet in recent years some key countries have been quietly and very successfully addressing water stress.
How are Singapore and Israel, for example – both severely water-stressed countries – not in the same predicament as Chennai or California?
In The Last Drop , award-winning environmental journalist Tim Smedley meets experts, victims, activists and pioneers to find out how we can mend the water table that our survival depends upon. He offers a fascinating, universally relevant account of the environmental and human factors that have led us to this point, and suggests practical ways to address the crisis, before it’s too late.
416 pages, Paperback
Published June 17, 2025
39 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 18, 2024
A well researched, interesting, and thought provoking book about how climate change will exacerbate water shortage but also the ways to alleviate water scarcity. A must read for anyone interested in water as we probably all should be because of the effects lack of water will have on all of us.
The author looks at the water resources we have and how we use it across the globe - from Arizona to England, and Peru to Pakistan. It’s a bleak picture.
Already climate change is extending droughts and intensifying the frequency of extreme rainfall, which doesn’t get absorbed by the earth like more regular rainfall. Aquifers are being exhausted and won’t replenish as they collapse from over extraction.
Many countries have effectively already run out of water as they can no longer grow their own food because they don’t have enough water to do so, and so have to import their food. At some point there won’t be enough to go around.
The author also looks at our water ‘footprint’. We may think we’re careful with our water usage, but the hidden picture is the water needed to produce what we eat and drink, and it is staggering amounts. For the vegetarians among us, there is a bonus that our water footprint is almost half that of meat eaters. But before we get all high and mighty, foods such as avocados and almonds are very water intensive to produce.
Dirty water is a big problem. Eighty per cent of our water resources are polluted. For example, 27 billion gallons of raw sewage goes into New York harbour annually.
The author, who is English, examines the poor state of England’s water supplies. You might think it rains a lot in the UK but it’s concentrated in the north of the country. London gets less rain annually than Rome or Sydney!
Thatcher privatised England’s water, and it has been a disaster. No new reservoirs have been built since privatisation thirty years ago despite a large rise in population. Our rivers are all over extracted and polluted, and the infrastructure is crumbling. There is no competition because the suppliers are monopolies in the regions they have been given. They have failed to invest, instead taking money out for their foreign shareholders and built up enormous debt to finance those dividends. Sooner or later the bill for failure will fall on the English tax payer. No other country in the world has so far been foolish enough to follow England’s lead. It’s a very live issue in the UK right now, and one reason of many that our current government will almost certainly lose this year’s election.
In the second half of the book, the author looks at solutions. Regenerative agriculture or 'no tilling’ could make a huge difference enabling soil, which contains apparently 8 times the water of earth's rivers, to retain moisture and feed aquifers. Modern farming methods dry out the soil and degrade it requiring every increasing quantities of pesticides and chemical fertilisers, all of which leak into water resources.
Instead of releasing excess water from reservoirs in winter into rivers so the water flows out to sea, flooding fields to replenish aquifers could make a huge difference as they now do in parts of California.
Desalination, however, it seems is no silver bullet. It creates more problems than it solves. Not only does the enormous energy required to desalinate the seawater create huge amounts of carbon dioxide omissions adding to global warming and hence a bigger water crisis, but the highly salty brine created and discharged back into the sea destroys marine eco systems. An even saltier sea results thus making desalination harder and more costly than it already is. It isn’t a sustainable solution.
Tiered water pricing - where the price increases massively if you go beyond ordinary use would focus us all on the need to conserve.
Capturing rainwater from roofs and integrating that into the water system of a house as required in Belgium, for example, has the double benefit of saving water that would be otherwise most likely be lost and reducing flooding so that storm drains don’t become overwhelmed leading to sewage being released into rivers.
Water stressed ancient civilisations built underground storage tanks. The Basilica Cistern in Istanbul built some fifteen hundred years ago, and now a tourist attraction which I’ve been lucky enough to visit, was the world’s largest, bigger by a factor of three than the modern world’s largest one built under Tokyo . And ancient Iranian water storage and distribution systems, which are enough to circle the equator nine times, are, where possible, being brought back into use.
In the UK, the Eurasian beaver is slowly being reintroduced and its effect on water resources has great potential. With the dams they build, they replenish underground sources, retain water so it can be used in periods of drought, and alleviate flooding by holding onto water that would otherwise flow into rivers downstream.
Removing invasive tree species, which drink considerably more water than native ones, frees up scarce water resources. In Cape Town, South Africa, this has increased available water by a fifth.
The lesson its seems is to learn from both our ancestors and nature. Twentieth century technology such as dams, which are silting up and becoming unusable - and desalination make things worse not better but have been pushed by multinationals for the profits they make from building them. It seems we need to use smarter, locally based solutions that are not only sustainable but in fact much cheaper to implement than concrete infrastructure.
Yet, as evidenced by humanity’s so far complacent response to global warming, it’s likely we will only know the value of water when the well runs dry (to paraphrase the words of Benjamin Franklin). Until we turn on our taps and nothing comes out, this issue isn't going to make the headlines as it should.
The author looks at the water resources we have and how we use it across the globe - from Arizona to England, and Peru to Pakistan. It’s a bleak picture.
Already climate change is extending droughts and intensifying the frequency of extreme rainfall, which doesn’t get absorbed by the earth like more regular rainfall. Aquifers are being exhausted and won’t replenish as they collapse from over extraction.
Many countries have effectively already run out of water as they can no longer grow their own food because they don’t have enough water to do so, and so have to import their food. At some point there won’t be enough to go around.
The author also looks at our water ‘footprint’. We may think we’re careful with our water usage, but the hidden picture is the water needed to produce what we eat and drink, and it is staggering amounts. For the vegetarians among us, there is a bonus that our water footprint is almost half that of meat eaters. But before we get all high and mighty, foods such as avocados and almonds are very water intensive to produce.
Dirty water is a big problem. Eighty per cent of our water resources are polluted. For example, 27 billion gallons of raw sewage goes into New York harbour annually.
The author, who is English, examines the poor state of England’s water supplies. You might think it rains a lot in the UK but it’s concentrated in the north of the country. London gets less rain annually than Rome or Sydney!
Thatcher privatised England’s water, and it has been a disaster. No new reservoirs have been built since privatisation thirty years ago despite a large rise in population. Our rivers are all over extracted and polluted, and the infrastructure is crumbling. There is no competition because the suppliers are monopolies in the regions they have been given. They have failed to invest, instead taking money out for their foreign shareholders and built up enormous debt to finance those dividends. Sooner or later the bill for failure will fall on the English tax payer. No other country in the world has so far been foolish enough to follow England’s lead. It’s a very live issue in the UK right now, and one reason of many that our current government will almost certainly lose this year’s election.
In the second half of the book, the author looks at solutions. Regenerative agriculture or 'no tilling’ could make a huge difference enabling soil, which contains apparently 8 times the water of earth's rivers, to retain moisture and feed aquifers. Modern farming methods dry out the soil and degrade it requiring every increasing quantities of pesticides and chemical fertilisers, all of which leak into water resources.
Instead of releasing excess water from reservoirs in winter into rivers so the water flows out to sea, flooding fields to replenish aquifers could make a huge difference as they now do in parts of California.
Desalination, however, it seems is no silver bullet. It creates more problems than it solves. Not only does the enormous energy required to desalinate the seawater create huge amounts of carbon dioxide omissions adding to global warming and hence a bigger water crisis, but the highly salty brine created and discharged back into the sea destroys marine eco systems. An even saltier sea results thus making desalination harder and more costly than it already is. It isn’t a sustainable solution.
Tiered water pricing - where the price increases massively if you go beyond ordinary use would focus us all on the need to conserve.
Capturing rainwater from roofs and integrating that into the water system of a house as required in Belgium, for example, has the double benefit of saving water that would be otherwise most likely be lost and reducing flooding so that storm drains don’t become overwhelmed leading to sewage being released into rivers.
Water stressed ancient civilisations built underground storage tanks. The Basilica Cistern in Istanbul built some fifteen hundred years ago, and now a tourist attraction which I’ve been lucky enough to visit, was the world’s largest, bigger by a factor of three than the modern world’s largest one built under Tokyo . And ancient Iranian water storage and distribution systems, which are enough to circle the equator nine times, are, where possible, being brought back into use.
In the UK, the Eurasian beaver is slowly being reintroduced and its effect on water resources has great potential. With the dams they build, they replenish underground sources, retain water so it can be used in periods of drought, and alleviate flooding by holding onto water that would otherwise flow into rivers downstream.
Removing invasive tree species, which drink considerably more water than native ones, frees up scarce water resources. In Cape Town, South Africa, this has increased available water by a fifth.
The lesson its seems is to learn from both our ancestors and nature. Twentieth century technology such as dams, which are silting up and becoming unusable - and desalination make things worse not better but have been pushed by multinationals for the profits they make from building them. It seems we need to use smarter, locally based solutions that are not only sustainable but in fact much cheaper to implement than concrete infrastructure.
Yet, as evidenced by humanity’s so far complacent response to global warming, it’s likely we will only know the value of water when the well runs dry (to paraphrase the words of Benjamin Franklin). Until we turn on our taps and nothing comes out, this issue isn't going to make the headlines as it should.
July 18, 2023
A very interesting book which illustrates just how close we are to running out of water. It explains the problem well and highlights how places all across the world are playing a dangerous game with our most precious resource. Although I knew a bit about the problems of water quality in water, and our Victorian sewage system, I did not realise the scale of the quantity problem in England. Smedley introduced me to very interesting ideas such as sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) and regenerative agriculture. I wish he explained more the causes of the problem more, such as excessive demand for consumer goods, livestock production etc.
September 7, 2025
am defra biased but think everyone should read this book, the water crisis is serious
October 19, 2025
3.5 rounded down because it could have been 100 pages less.
in general: very important, especially considering climate change and AI
in general: very important, especially considering climate change and AI
August 27, 2023
A very comprehensive look at a myriad of issues relating to the availability of water in the 21st Century.
November 27, 2023
I immediately started reading the Last Drop a second time - no book has made me want to do that before! Very readable, but backed by solid evidence and painstaking research. Scary, provocative and hopeful.
November 29, 2023
This had a good range of water topics and also highlighted a number of solutions that should work. It was an easy read, ie not too technical and had good foot notes. V
November 4, 2023
A fascinating and highly informative overview and deep dive into water and how it is managed in different places around the world.
May 11, 2025
A dense and (at times) depressing deep dive into the dire reality of the world’s water crisis. The author did an excellent job of rigorously investigating the breadth and depth of water problems across multiple countries, agencies, and environmental concerns. I feel greatly educated in the complexity of the crisis, yet did not finish the book feeling optimistic about the future solutions. This is largely to do with the collective action and ginormous capital expenditure that feels required to have any significant impact. For most of the book, it felt like the water crisis is an unavoidable reality. It would be unfair of me to judge the quality of the book on the reality of our situation, yet I wonder if the author had more leeway to sprinkle a subtle bit of more optimism. My main qualm with the book was more that it exposed my complete lack of knowledge on how the water cycle actually functions, but was written as if the reader out to have a good amount of prerequisite knowledge. Again, I oughtn’t penalise my impression of the book based on my naivety, but I would definitely have appreciated some first principles system discussion to understand how the world of water is pieces together today.
April 26, 2024
Tim's book is not just a research piece of global proportions; it's a first-hand account of the world's water crisis. The author doesn't merely regurgitate second-hand information. Instead, he travels to the heart of the issue, observing firsthand the complexities and realities of our global water predicament.
Yes, the book is brimming with statistics and data, many of which are distressingly indicative of the severity of the climate crisis we face. However, Smedley's masterful narrative skillfully blends these facts into a compelling narrative, making them as palatable and digestible as a leisurely afternoon tea. The result? A book that communicates complex issues and alarming data in a manner that every reader, regardless of their prior knowledge or scientific background, can relate to and understand.
In essence, Tim emerges from the hallowed halls of 221B Baker Street as the Sherlock Holmes of our era, meticulously dissecting the enigma of the global water crisis and presenting us with potential solutions. His book is an enlightening beacon in a world grappling with environmental challenges, and a testament to the power of investigative, accessible, and engaging writing.
Yes, the book is brimming with statistics and data, many of which are distressingly indicative of the severity of the climate crisis we face. However, Smedley's masterful narrative skillfully blends these facts into a compelling narrative, making them as palatable and digestible as a leisurely afternoon tea. The result? A book that communicates complex issues and alarming data in a manner that every reader, regardless of their prior knowledge or scientific background, can relate to and understand.
In essence, Tim emerges from the hallowed halls of 221B Baker Street as the Sherlock Holmes of our era, meticulously dissecting the enigma of the global water crisis and presenting us with potential solutions. His book is an enlightening beacon in a world grappling with environmental challenges, and a testament to the power of investigative, accessible, and engaging writing.
December 4, 2024
It is a long but well written book. I think everyone should read this, or at least if you could boil down the facts and stats to share, people would be shocked. Water scarcity is real, and even in the UK where it rains a lot, we are not far away from disaster. We need to use water wisely and stop polluting the water we have.
January 20, 2025
This book confirms that we are killing the planet in more ways than one. I loved it, I feel 100% more worried but also 100% more informed and prepared to better manage my “water footprint”. Highly recommend.
September 30, 2025
Great read! Provides a clear and honest discussion around the core issues behind our global water crisis. It does feel scattered at times but is a phenomenal primer for modern water issues and solutions, driving by compelling case studies.
January 13, 2024
Another consciousness-raiser by Tim Smedley.
March 10, 2024
Amazingly researched, comprehensively presented, as a Wate Engineer myself I can fully appreciate this book. Climate change in all its fury!
March 23, 2024
I learned so much while reading this book!! Hard to get through at times but so interesting and informational.
May 26, 2024
Still reading.
Incredibly readable -- Jeff Goodell level readable climate journalism.
Incredibly readable -- Jeff Goodell level readable climate journalism.
Read
June 14, 2024I think I have to stop reading books like these.
September 1, 2024
everyone should buy two copies of this book so they can give one to a friend
October 7, 2024
A crucial topic that we would all do well to be informed about. Good that Tim Smedley wrote this book!
February 25, 2025
Never touching an avocado again!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews