According to Dr. Boulay, there is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis that is caused by (select one).

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The question presents a claim attributed to Dr. Boulay about the water crisis today and asks us to identify the underlying cause from the given options.

Because the provided data shows only a single answer option, there is no list of alternative choices to evaluate in relation to the prompt. This means we cannot compare multiple potential causes and rule them in or out based on reasoning about each option.

From the lone answer given, 'Water is not distributed equally in time and space, and its quality is degrading around the globe,' we can analyze why this statement aligns with common critiques of contemporary water crises. First, unequal temporal and spatial distribution refers to how some regions experience ample or excess water at certain times (seasonal floods or wet seasons), while others face scarcity during dry periods; this imbalance creates chronic shortages despite overall water availability. Second, quality degradation globally points to pollution, over-extraction, salinization, and contamination, which reduce usable water even where quantity seems sufficient. Together, these factors shift the crisis from merely 'not enough water' to 'not adequately and reliably available water of suitable quality' for many populations.

If there were other options, we would evaluate them as follows: 
- An option focusing on universal abundance would be incorrect, as the crisis is characterized by uneven distribution and quality issues rather than a universal lack of water. 
- An option attributing the crisis solely to population growth without considering distribution and quality would be overly narrow and misleading, since distribution and water quality are central to the crisis even when population grows. 
- An option claiming the problem is due to mismanagement alone would be incomplete without acknowledging structural issues in distribution and environmental degradation that accompany mismanagement.

In summary, the statement highlights two core dimensions commonly cited in water-security discourse: spatial-temporal distribution inequalities and degrading water quality, which together explain why the crisis persists even in regions with some abundance. If other options were present, they would need to address these same structural dimensions to be credible explanations of the crisis.

SSM 3301 (001) 5) Week 5 Quiz - Enough Water?

According to Dr. Boulay, there is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis that is caused by (select one).

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