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(CNN) -- One sixth of the world's population does not have access to clean drinking water. More than 2 million people, most of them children, die each year from water-borne diseases.

People in India, where millions don't have access to clean drinking water, fill buckets from a supply pipeline.

Water-related problems aren't restricted to the developing world. A harmful pesticide, banned by many European countries, remains widely used in the United States, where it runs into rivers and streams.

And one expert estimates California's water supply will run out in 20 years.

These sobering statistics come from "FLOW," a new documentary film about the world's dwindling water supply. The filmmakers and their sources argue a combination of factors, including drought and skyrocketing demand, have created a looming global crisis that threatens the long-term survival of the human race.

After premiering in January at the Sundance Film Festival, "FLOW" opened September 12 in New York and Los Angeles, California, and expands to more cities this week. The New York Times called the documentary "less depressing than galvanizing, an informed and heartfelt examination of the tug of war between public health and private interests."

As the film shows, some nations are banking on controversial technology, such as desalination plants that convert seawater into freshwater, to meet future water needs. Meanwhile, water has become a commodity that supports a $400 billion global industry -- the third largest behind electricity and oil.

CNN spoke to "FLOW" director Irena Salina and Maude Barlow, author of "Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water." Some of their answers have been condensed.

CNN: Why do we have a global water crisis?

Barlow: The demand for fresh water in our world over the next 30 years is far outstripping the supply. Not that the water isn't somewhere on the planet still -- but we have polluted it, diverted it, allowed it to get poisoned by seawater. One way or another, we have taken accessible clean water ... and we have rendered it unusable. We take massive amounts [of water] and we irrigate the desert, where it evaporates. We're pumping groundwater all over the world far faster that it can be replenished by nature. We are actually running out of fresh, clean water everywhere in the world, including here in North America. We have to give up this myth of abundance. We have come to the limits of the planet.

Is climate change exacerbating the problem?

Barlow: Oh, yes. They are intricately linked. Global warming warms up massive bodies of water, which evaporate more quickly than they should. Warming is melting all the glaciers in the world. So there's no question that greenhouse gas-induced climate change is impacting water.

Your film illustrates how in some parts of the world, the public water supply is now controlled by corporations. What's wrong with privatization of water?

Barlow: When you have a demand that's growing exponentially, and a supply that's decreasing exponentially, then whoever makes the decisions around water suddenly becomes very important. Private corporations have decided that this is more important than oil. They're going to make more money and become more powerful owning and distributing water than they can from anything else. All of these [corporate] practices mean ... the poor of the world don't have access to [affordable] clean water.

The film raises an important question: Is water a commodity, like oil, or is it a common natural resource?

Barlow: That's the essential question, and until we get that straight in the world, we're going to continue to have these conflicts. And there are going to be [more] conflicts as the big superpowers seek new water sources outside their borders. There are conflicts, obviously, between the needs of humans and nature. We're taking more than our share. We argue that if you ask the question, 'Who owns water?' the answer is that nobody owns it. It belongs to the earth. It belongs to all species. It belongs to future generations. It's a public trust and a human right.

The World Bank says it's not a human right, it's a human need -- and therefore the private sector can provide this just as well as the public sector. However, we say that ... you can't deny somebody water because they can't pay for it. And we're working right now towards a covenant at the United Nations that would declare water a human right. My country, Canada, and your country, the United States, are both in opposition to this.

There's a place for [desalination and recycling] technology, and there's a place even for the private sector, but it will all have to fit into the larger twin goals of conservation and source protection on one hand, and justice and equity on the other. Those are the twin foundations of a water-secure future. There will be no human future on this planet unless we get our act together.

If we're facing a water crisis, how do we fix it?

Salina: If world leaders, the international finance institutions, the U.N. and other governmental organizations really wanted to solve the problems related to water, they would take immediate action at the national and international levels. We would see a U.N. treaty that guarantees people sufficient potable water. We would see the G8 nations step up and provide resources for the provision of water to the urban and rural poor.

If our own leaders were serious about solving problems, we would not allow corporations to discharge pollutants into our water sources. And if they were serious about solving water problems -- instead of spending billions on developing technologies that clean up pollution -- we would be using resources to prevent water pollution in the first place. It will take political will. It will also take efforts on our part as individuals and communities.

What do you hope your film accomplishes?

He ventured forth to bring light to the world

Background story.
My grandparents were supposed to come down to visit us yesterday and give us some apricots from their tree. In the morning, my Gram called and said that they weren't coming down as Papa was in the hospital. His heart was bothering him again, but he should be okay. This isn't the first time he's landed in the hospital because of his heart, no biggie.

So as I was getting ready to leave the house for the gym this morning, I get another call from Gram. She said that my Dad was driving her to the hospital because the Doctor just called and told her that he's much worse and that she should start calling everyone who wants to say goodbye as he doesn't have much time left. Oh SHIT!

I call Joe, no answer on his phone. I call my mom, she offers to leave work to watch the kids so I can go say goodbye. I told her that Dad already offered. I start to pack a bag just in case we stay the night. Joe calls, I fill him in, and tell him that I'm about to walk out the door for the gym as I haven't had a shower yet. He tells me he'll meet me at home by the time I'm done.

I go to the gym. There are, I swear, 3000 kids in the kids area. Takes forever to get the kids checked in, I run down the halls to the locker and run into several of my friends from one of my Mom's groups (Not the people you are pissed at Allan). T- sees me and sees the tears and asks if I'm okay, and I said no and filled her in. She gave me a hug and offered to pray for me. (Did I mention that this group is associated with a church?) I thank her, and run into the shower. As I'm drying off a couple of the other moms comes in and asks if they can take the kids for the day or if there was anything else they could do. What wonderful people! I'm very lucky.

Blah, blah, blah. Meet Joe at home, drive to hospital. Well, grab food, drop Joe and kids at a park across the street (this was a much nicer park when I was a kid. Nicely shaded, more interesting play structures) I walk  to the hospital. Meet my Dad in the 3rd floor lobby. Walk into the CCU.