One of the main themes being explored in Urinetown is water conservation and the corporate exploitation of natural resources. One thing we are trying to raise awareness with Urinetown is the water shortage problem seen within our country and around the world, and getting the audience to become aware of the issue while hoping that they will get up to make a change in their lifestyles.
Urinetown takes place twenty years after the fictional “Stink Years”. This was a time when the water tables started dropping and kept on dropping. It was during this time when Mr. Cladwell, founder and CEO of Urine Good Company, seized his opportunity to opened his private public restrooms to control water consumption.
Now this may seem improbable to many of us today. However, usable fresh water is a serious problem around the world and even here in the US. Water.org says that there are 780 million people that lack access to clean water, and to put that into perspective, that is more than two and a half times the United States population. The United Nations reported that water usage has grown at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century. While National Geographic stated that there has been an 800% increase in water consumption per person in industrialized nations.
Things to help combat this issue are things we hear everyday, but they can make a huge impact. For one thing you can turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving. Take shorter showers. These are just a few options but there are dozens of ways to conserve. Just by remaining conscious about the issue can make a huge difference.
