Macau's gambling industry faces nightmare of water rationing

[Prometheus Bound]

Source: Times on Line (UK)

November 10, 2009
Macau, Asia’s foremost den of neon-soaked excess and sleazy glamour, has expanded to the brink of catastrophe and may be forced to ration drinking water as reservoirs run dry.

Indeed, to the horror of big casino operators, there are signs that non-essential supplies may be cut off as early as this weekend as authorities struggle to keep non-toxic water flowing through the taps.

Even the briefest spell without water would be a devastating blow to a hotel industry that has just installed thousands of luxury bathtubs and to a city whose GDP is derived almost entirely from opulence-hungry visitors.

Some forecasts suggest that Macau may have only ten days of fresh water left. Stocks of bottled water may have to be shipped in unless a deal can be struck with water companies in Guangdong province — suppliers who are already under intense strain to keep Hong Kong’s taps running as the water shortage takes hold.

Read more: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/markets/china/article6910026.ece

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. wow

[pundaint]

2. Lack of foresight, it isn't just for Wall Street and Congress anymore!

[clixtox]

3. Billions & billions have been invested in Macao tourism, even a new airport!

Could they have been so short-sighted to not create whatever infrastructure required to access or create potable water.

The scale and intensity of Macao's metamorphosis since I first visited in 1974 would have been absolutely unbelievable to conceive back then. Macao consisted of the sleepy, laid back, colonial backwater remnant of the former Portuguese empire comprising two small islands and the equally minute mainland portion along one side of the Pearl River. I stayed in a small "hotel" on the island of Coloanne, I believe, accessible only by an occasional ferry.

Since then the land area of Macao has been expanded such that those two islands are no longer islands but slightly elevated sections of the new Macao. This reclamation allowed an international airport to be built, which created demand for more casinos, supposedly, and here we are!

Ready to dry up and literally blow away.

It's way too late to sell those casino's corporate shares short as it is a ill wind indeed that doesn't help someone. I imagine this news instigated some dramatic financial deal making to capitalize on potential disaster.

Hell! Just this sort of news out there is a disaster for Macao!

[Prometheus Bound]

5. Old Macau vs new Macau in pics

I first visited it in 1978 and loved the place. I live just half an hour away now, but have totally lost interest in visiting. It has no character now. All fake.

OLD Macau

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sNiV432AuZ8/RbmBs_iq_rI/AAAAAAAAAfU/E0QD_abL5Co/s400/Macau+073.jpg

NEW Macau

[nyy1998]

8. I just went to Macau in Feburary

The casinos are nice and stuff, but checking out the old Macau was really cool. I made sure to get shots by the Ruins of St. Paul.

[JCMach1]

4. Water is the next big crisis... it's much more immediate (though often related to) Global Warming

I watched an especially frightening show on National Geographic about the Ganges which is will seriously put at risk close to 3/4 of a billion people in the coming decades if something isn't done.

[Roland99]

6. And guess who's buying up water rights the world over? Firms like Bechtel...

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bolivia/thestory.html

[JCMach1]

7. You got it... There are several countries to watch that are having big problems at the moment

Bolivia, Venezuela, Kenya, China and India have some of the biggest problems for the moment.