Jack Randall
He/Him

Buy More Water

The relationship between consumerism and water rights is still a heavily debated topic. The Colorado River is one of the main resources for Colorado’s water supply, acting as 40% of the total reserve. It also contributes to six other states within the United States, as well as Mexico. Due to its geographical responsibility, the Colorado River is one of the more dominant water resources in the Western North American region and must be taken care of conscientiously. In the 1860s, Colorado started to monitor water usage by creating a set of regulations entitled the Colorado Doctrine. Although these laws were originally created to protect water from misappropriation, there have been recent issues regarding the ownership and monetization of water rights.

This research analyzes current water regulations in Colorado, the ecological effect that mass-production causes for groundwater, and the social impact that consumerism has on water rights. Potable water should internationally remain a human right and not another commodity. By designing strong imagery to speak toward this topic, I will combat the monopolization of a birthright. My objective is to inform and educate viewers, as well as provoke a response. Through this thesis, people will understand the consequences of our current system of monetizing and regulating potable water.