Reply #2: That second paragraph about "showering" illustrates a problem with his story.

[phantom power]

Only 10% of water use is residential. The other 90% is industrial (30%) and agricultural (60%). By far, the biggest impacts of water shortages will be on our food and our economy, as in the expense and availability of goods and services.

Another implication is that stuff we do at home is by definition limited to a 10% impact, and of course it will be less than that, since we can't actually stop using water altogether. Unless we die, which is of course a going concern.

I thought it was a good story, though. He's a talented writer.