From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Does the world need desalination?

Hello again, I'm Warren Olney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Water shortages

in the Middle East, Australia, and the Western United States are providing a wake-up call.

Human kind's most precious resource is running low. Greater efficiency and reuse of wastewater are

obvious fixes. Beyond that, there's desalinating the ocean to create new supplies. Will an expensive technological fix discourage conservation?

Is it worth the energy it demands and the impact on the environment?

We'll look at the available options to cope with an inevitable worldwide crisis.

Today's talking point, an automatic rifle you can make at home.

No waiting period, no background check, no serial number.

First, here's the news.

Listen to KCRW's 24-hour all-news channel, stream BBC World Service, NPRW programs,

continuous coverage on our mobile app or online at kCRW.com.

Support for To The Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

Hello again. Warren Alney, back with To the Point. Global warming, drought, and

increased population are combining to increase the pressure on water supplies worldwide. Is desalination

the solution, a stopgap, or technological overkill that's not worth what it costs? Today's

talking point. Handguns made with 3D printers are old news. Now you can make your own AR-15 out of metal, an automatic rifle that can't be traced by law enforcement. It's easier than you might think. First, this news update. In South Korea, two people are dead. 1300 have been quarantined and 500 schools have closed their doors, all because of an outbreak of

MERS or Middle East respiratory system.

There is no vaccine syndrome, excuse me.

...