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Essay on Water Scarcity

Water is the basic necessity of every human being, but water scarcity is a major issue that is rising very rapidly in India nowadays. The problem has become so severe that in many states the groundwater has almost dried up and people have to depend on water supply from other sources. In addition, water is one of the most misused natural resources that we still waste. It is the central point of our lives but unfortunately, not our priority concern. 

Earlier, people understood the value of water and planned their lives around it. Moreover, many civilizations were born and lost around water, but today, in spite of having knowledge, we still fail to understand the value of water in our lives. 

Reasons for Water Scarcity

Mismanagement of water and the growing population in our country are the two main reasons for water scarcity. There are also a number of other man made disturbances that continue to rise. Besides this, some of the reasons for water scarcity are:  

Wasteful Use of Water for Agriculture  

India, an agricultural country, produces a huge quantity of food to feed its population. The surplus that is left, gets exported outside. 

It is not unknown that producing this much food requires a lot of water too. The traditional method of irrigation wastes a lot of water due to evaporation, water conveyance, drainage, percolation, and the overuse of groundwater. Besides, most of the areas in India use traditional irrigation techniques that stress the availability of water.

However, the technique of irrigation has changed during modern times and we provide water to plants using a sprinkler or drip irrigation.

Reduction in Water Recharges Systems  

Rapid construction that uses concrete and marbles may not let the rainwater get absorbed in the soil, but still, we install some mechanism in our houses so that we can hold the rainwater. Then we can recharge the groundwater.

Lack of Water Management and Distribution

There is a need for an efficient system to manage and distribute the water in urban areas. The Indian government also needs to enhance its technology and investment in water treatment. Besides, we should ensure optimization at the planning level.

Solutions to Overcome this Problem

Close the running tap.

 During dishwashing and hand washing people often let the tap run. These running taps waste thousands of liters of water per year. Therefore, closing the tap will reduce this problem.

Replace Dripping Taps  

In India, it is commonly seen that most of the houses have taps or faucets that go on dripping water even when they are closed. This running tap wastes up to 30,000 liters of water that nobody bothers to change. So, we should replace these taps immediately.

Brief on Water Scarcity  

Water is a basic necessity for every living being.  Life without water is impossible, not just for us humans, but for all plants and animals too. Water scarcity is an issue of grave concern these days as water scarcity has become very common. Water is one of the most wasted natural resources and corrective measures should be taken before the water scarcity situation becomes worse. In spite of being aware of the implications, not much is being done today. 

In India, and across the world, it has been recorded that about half a billion people face a shortage of water for about six months annually. Many well-known cities around the world are facing acute scarcity of water. Many facts and figures are available to know about the water scarcity problem, but what are the reasons for this scarcity? 

With the growing population, the use of water has increased manifold. The lack of more freshwater sources and the increase in population is a major reason for this scarcity. The lack of proper Water management systems and proper drainage systems in India, especially in the urban areas is a major cause too. Kitchen wastewater should be able to be recycled but due to a poor drainage system, this is not possible. An efficient water management system is required in order to distribute water in urban areas.

Another major issue is Deforestation. Areas with more greenery and plants are known to have good rainfall.  Industrialisation and urbanization are two major factors here. Due to Deforestation, and cutting down of trees, rainfall has become an issue too.

Rivers are a major source of fresh water in India. Today we see a lot of industries that have come up and all of them are mostly near the rivers and these rivers become highly polluted as a result of all the industrial waste.

Effect of Global Warming and Climate Change

Global Warming and Climate Change are also responsible for the scarcity of water. The melting of icebergs into the sea due to the rise in temperatures is a reason as to how salty water is increasing day by day instead of freshwater. The percentage of rainfall has decreased drastically these days. Climate change along with the decrease in rainfall percentage has greatly affected freshwater bodies. 

Water scarcity has become a major problem and an alarming issue these days, and we must consciously strive to work together to find some solution to this issue of water scarcity. The Indian government today has formulated and come up with many plans on how to tackle and solve this problem.

To conclude, water scarcity has become an alarming issue day by day. If we do not take the problem of water scarcity seriously now, our future generations are going to suffer severely and may even have to buy this necessity at a high cost.

FAQs on Water Scarcity Essay

1.  What are the reasons for Water Scarcity?

The lack of proper Water Management and proper Drainage system plays a major role. Many other factors and reasons can be held responsible for the scarcity of water. Some of the major reasons are Global Warming and Climate Change; Pollution of the rivers due to industrialization; Deforestation and the cutting down of trees is another reason; Reduced percentage of rainfall due to the climate change pattern; Increase in the population which leads to increase in the use of water.  Learn more about water scarcity on Vedantu website helpful for long-term.

2. What is meant by the scarcity of water?

The scarcity of water means a shortage of water and not being able to manage the demand and supply of water. Water scarcity refers to the lack of freshwater bodies to meet the standard quantity and demand of water. Unequal distribution of water due to factors like Climate Change and Global Warming. Water Scarcity is also due to pollution and lack of rainfall. Water scarcity means a scarcity due to some physical scarcity or scarcity due to the lack of regular supply.

3. What are the two types of water scarcity?

Physical water scarcity is the result of regions' demand outpacing the limited water resources found in that location. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, about 1.2 billion people live in areas of physical scarcity and many of these people live in arid or semi-arid regions. People who are affected by this Physical kind of water scarcity are expected to grow as the population increases and as the weather patterns keep changing as a result of climate change.

Economic water scarcity is due to the lack of proper water infrastructure and a proper water management system or also because of poor management of water resources. The FAO estimates that more than 1.6 billion people face economic water shortages today. Economic water scarcity can also take place because of the unregulated use of water for agriculture and industry.

4.  How can we solve the problem?

Conscious awareness is required to deal with and understand the problem of water scarcity. We can start off by consciously saving water in our homes and surroundings.  Small easy steps like taking care when washing hands, or when working in the kitchen, have to be taken. The running water taps are a major reason for losing hundreds of liters of water on a daily basis. And we should be careful not to waste this water. Conscious decision to save and the need to understand the problem of water scarcity is of utmost importance.

5. How do we waste water?

Water is wasted in ways we do not even realize, in our homes and in our workplaces. When we brush our teeth, when we shave or when we wash the dishes, one of the most common things we do is to keep the water running, especially when running water is available. As soon as we begin cleaning or washing, we do not think of the water that is being wasted. While washing hands, we leave the water tap on, which results in wasting water too. Small things like these should be kept in mind and this could be our small step towards preserving water.

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13.3: Water Scarcity and Solutions

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• Melissa Ha and Rachel Schleiger
• Yuba College & Butte College via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

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One of the most important environmental goals is to provide clean water to all people. Fortunately, water is a renewable resource and is difficult to destroy. Evaporation and precipitation combine to replenish our fresh water supply constantly; however, water availability is complicated by its uneven distribution over the Earth.

Water Scarcity

The water crisis refers to a global situation where people in many areas lack access to sufficient water, clean water, or both. Arid climate and densely populated areas have combined in many parts of the world to create water shortages, which are projected to worsen in the coming years due to population growth, water overuse, water pollution, and climate change. Specifically, climate change shifts precipitation patterns and causes the snow pack that recharges rivers to melt earlier in the year. Furthermore, rising sea levels associated with climate change worsen saltwater intrusion.

Water scarcity  refers to water shortages, which can be physical or economic (figure \(\PageIndex{a}\)).  Physical water scarcity is the lack of sufficient water resources in an area; that is, water is depleted more quickly than it is replenished. Unpredictable precipitation patterns associated with climate change , which increase the risk of flooding and drought, exacerbates physical water scarcity.  Economic water scarcity occurs when people cannot afford access to water. The United Nations estimates that over half of the global population faces water scarcity for one or more months of the year (see The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2019 ). According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, 785 million people lack access to even a basic drinking water service (see Drinking Water ) and two billion people lack access to improved sanitation as simple as a pit latrine (see Sanitation ), and three billion people lack a facility to wash their hands (see Hand Hygiene for All ). As a result, nearly 829,000 people die every year from diarrheal diseases, and 297,000 of those deaths occur among children under the age of five (see Drinking Water ). 

Solutions for Addressing Water Shortages

While some human activities have exacerbated the water crisis, humans have also developed technologies to better acquire or conserve freshwater. Solutions to addressing water shortages include dams and reservoirs, rainwater harvesting, aqueducts, desalination, water reuse, and water conservation.

Dams and Reservoirs

Reservoirs  (artificial lakes) that form behind dams in rivers can collect water during wet times and store it for use during dry spells (figure \(\PageIndex{b}\)). They also can be used for urban water supplies. Other benefits of dams and reservoirs are hydroelectricity, flood control, and recreation. Some of the drawbacks are evaporative loss of water in arid climates and downstream river channel erosion. Additionally, dams reduce water flow downstream, which could lead to political conflicts when rivers span states or countries. 

The negative ecosystem impacts of dams are another major drawback. For example, dams change a river to a lake habitat and interfere with migration and spawning of fish. Furthermore, warming of the surface water in the reservior influences the temperature of the water downstream, impacting the fish and aquatic invertebrates that are adapted to colder water. Dams also trap sediments that would otherwise continue to flow down the river, creating habitat and supplying nutrietns downstream.

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting involves catching and storing rainwater before it reaches the ground. Figure \(\PageIndex{c}\) shows a complex rainwater harvesting system (rain water capture system) proposed for federal buildings, but smaller, simpler systems (sometimes called rain barrels) can be used by individual homeowners (figure \(\PageIndex{d}\)).

Aqueducts can move water from where it is plentiful to where it is needed. Aqueducts can be controversial and politically difficult especially if the water transfer distances are large. One drawback is the water diversion can cause drought in the area from where the water is drawn. For example, Owens Lake and Mono Lake in central California began to disappear after their river flow was diverted to the Los Angeles aqueduct (figure \(\PageIndex{e}\)). Without water supply, Owens Lake dried and became a major source of particulate matter, polluting the air during dust storms (see Air Pollution ). Owens Lake remains almost completely dry, but Mono Lake has recovered more significantly due to legal intervention. Learn more about the Los Angeles Aqueduct here .

Desalination

One method that can actually increase the amount of freshwater on Earth is desalination , which involves removing dissolved salt and minerals from seawater or saline groundwater (figure \(\PageIndex{f}\)). An advantage of this approach is that there is a virtually unlimited supply of saltwater. There are several ways to desalinate seawater including boiling, filtration, electrodialysis (applying an electric current to removed the ions which comprise salts), and reverse osmosis (figure \(\PageIndex{g}\)). All of these procedures are moderately to very expensive and require considerable energy input, making the water produced much more expensive than freshwater from conventional sources. In addition, the process creates highly saline wastewater, which must be disposed of and creates significant environmental impact. Desalination is most common in the Middle East, where energy from oil is abundant but water is scarce.

Water Reuse (Water Recycling)

Water recycling refers to reusing water for appropriate purposes such as agriculture, municipal water supply, industrial processes, and environmental restoration (figure \(\PageIndex{h}\)). This could occur at the scale of a single household, for example, installing plumbing that reroutes water drained from the sink to flush the toilet. Water recycling can also occur at large scales. For example, wastewater from the sewage system is regularly treated to an extent, but it can be treated further to produce  potable water (which is safe to drink) and then pumped into depleted aquifers. This approach limits saltwater intrusion of aquifers near the coast and reduces dependence on precipitation and subsequent infiltration to recharge aquifers. Orange County Water District in California employed this system following an information campaign to explain the purification process and ensure public confidence in the safety of the treated wastewater.

Water Conservation

Water conservation  refers to using less water and using it more efficiently. Around the home, conservation can involve both water-saving technologies and behavioral decisions. Examples of water-saving technologies include high-efficiency clothes washers and low-flow showers and toilets. Water-conserving behaviors include turning off the water while you brush your teeth, taking shorter showers and showers instead of baths, and fixing leaky faucets. A dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand, particularly the dishwasher is only run when it is full. Similarly, running fewer, larger loads of laundry conserves water relative to more frequent, smaller loads. Choosing foods with a low water footprint (like eggs) over those with a high water footprint (like beef) can also conserve water.

Gardening offers several water-saving opportunities. If you live in a dry climate, consider growing only native, drought-tolerant vegetation, which requires little irrigation (figure \(\PageIndex{h}\)). When you do irrigate your garden, do so only as needed and early in the morning, when less water will be lost to evaporation. Drip systems assist in delivering only the needed amount of water in a way that minimizes evaporation. These strategies can also be applied at large scales in agriculture, which is extremely important considering the high agricultural demands on our water supply relative to municipal use. Water conservation strategies in agriculture include growing crops in areas where the natural rainfall can support them, more efficient irrigation systems such as drip systems, and no-till farming, which reduces evaporative losses by covering the soil.

Bottled water is not a sustainable solution to the water crisis. Bottled water is not necessarily any safer than the U.S. public water supply, it costs on average about 700 times more than U.S. tap water, and every year it uses approximately 200 billion plastic and glass bottles that have a relatively low rate of recycling. Compared to tap water, it uses much more energy, mainly in bottle manufacturing and long-distance transportation. (Purchasing a water filter is a more sustainable solution than bottled water if you do not like the taste of tap water.) 

Drinking Water . 2019. WHO. Accessed 2020-12-29.

Hand Hygeine for All . 2020. UNICEF. Accessed 2020-12-29.

Sanitation . 2019. WHO. Accessed 2020-12-29.

The Sustainable Development Goals Report . 2019. United Nations. Accessed 2020-12-29.

Attribution

Modified by Melissa Ha from the following sources:

• Water Availability and Use from  Environmental Biology  by Matthew R. Fisher (licensed under  CC-BY )
• Basic Information about Water Reuse by United States Environmental Protection Agency (public domain)

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Water Shortage: Causes and Effects

Climate change, coupled with water mismanagement and overconsumption, is causing droughts and water shortages across many parts of the globe. Aside from the obvious threat to public health, the subsequent effects of water shortage can vary from food insecurity to increased human conflicts, highlighting the importance of protecting global water resources and using them sustainably. Here are the main causes and effects of water shortage and what we can do about it.

It is increasingly evident that droughts around the world are becoming more frequent and intense, as well as are occurring at progressively prolonged periods of time. This is most demonstrable by the ongoing megadrought in the western regions of the US, where it is in the midst of its driest conditions in history . 

No continent on Earth has been untouched by water scarcity, and an increasing number of regions are reaching the limit at which they can provide water services sustainably, especially in arid regions. Nearly two-thirds of the world’s population is predicted to face water shortages by 2025. This worrying trend is causing many to pose the question: “ are we running out of water ”? 

The short answer is yes, primarily driven by climate change and global population growth. We explore what other causes are there and the major effects of it around the world. 

Causes of Water Shortage

Droughts and Climate Change

Water shortages occur due to a number of factors; one of the biggest drivers of water scarcity is drought. Drought is a natural phenomenon in which dry conditions and lack of precipitation – whether it is rain, snow or sleet –  occur over certain areas for a period of time. 

While the amount of rainfall can naturally vary between different regions and times of year, climate change and rising global temperatures are altering rainfall patterns, which in turn, impact the quality and spatial distribution of global water resources. Warmer temperatures mean that moisture in soil evaporates at faster rates, and more frequent and severe heat waves exacerbate drought conditions and contribute towards water shortages. 

These conditions also create the perfect breeding ground for wildfires, further fuelling drought season and water stress. In the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report , climate scientists say that groundwater stored in aquifers, which provides 36% of the world’s domestic water supply for over 2 billion people, is highly sensitive to future climate change. They also concluded that wet regions are expected to get wetter while dry regions will get drier. 

In China for example, the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers are two major water resources that support the country. They rely on the glacial meltwater from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Global warming, where temperatures in the glacial region rose by 3- 3.5C over the past half-century, has produced less snow and ice mass , causing glacial run-off into the Yangtze to be reduced by 13.9% since the 1990s. 

Poor Water Management and Growing Demand

Today, the world’s population is just short of eight billion people, which translates to a growing demand for water amid water stress from climate change. Urbanisation and an exponential increase in freshwater demand for households are both driving factors behind water shortages, especially in regions with a precarious water supply. 

For example in 2018, Cape Town, South Africa experienced a water crisis and became the first modern city to effectively run out of drinking water as a result of extreme drought, poor water resource management and overconsumption. 

Likewise, China is also at risk of running out of water due to poor water management. Each year, total renewable water resources per inhabitant is estimated at about 2,018 cubic metres , which is 75% less than the global average, according to the World Bank.

Water Pollution

Contaminated and unsafe water is another contributing factor of water shortages. Water pollution already kills more people each year than war and all other forms of violence combined. As we only have less than 1% of the Earth’s freshwater accessible to us, human activity is actively threatening our own water resources. Water pollution can come from a number of sources, including sewage and wastewater – more than 80% of the world’s wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated, and agricultural and industrial runoff, where pesticides and toxic chemicals leach into the groundwater and nearby freshwater systems. Consequently, precious water resources get contaminated, resulting in less freshwater and drinking water available. 

You might also like: 4 Countries with Water Scarcity in 2022

Effects of Water Shortage

The United Nations states that having free access to freshwater is a basic human right. And losing that access to drinking water can be detrimental to human health and lives, as we all need water to survive. However, water scarcity and shortage can lead to other serious impacts on the environment and threaten global peace and security as well. 

Food Insecurity 

We need water to produce food that we eat. Today, around 70% of freshwater withdrawals go into agriculture, from irrigation and pesticide to fertiliser application and sustaining livestock. As the global population continues to grow, agricultural production is required to expand by another 70% by 2050 to keep up with demand, thereby redirecting even more freshwater resources. 

In February 2021, the UN World Food Program reported that severe drought caused by record dry conditions has left an estimated 13 million people facing hunger in the Horn of Africa. Intense and prolonged droughts have decimated food crops and caused high rates of livestock deaths, causing food prices to soar. Families are struggling to buy and secure food as a result, while high malnutrition rates are occurring across the region. The UN warns should the situation worsens, it will spark a humanitarian crisis. 

You might also like: Water Crisis in South Africa: Causes, Effects, And Solutions

Increased Human Conflicts

One of the biggest effects of water shortage is that it prompts increased competition between water users, thus potentially sparking conflicts, which could potentially put millions of lives at risk. 

In India, drought has triggered serious conflict between water users at the local level, many of whom depend on water for their livelihoods. At a broader level, India has been in conflict with its neighbouring country of Pakistan over water disputes, among other political issues. The two nations have clashed over the control of upstream water barrages and infrastructure projects for decades, which regulated water flow into Pakistan. Water mismanagement and climate change are exacerbating these diplomatic tensions; The Himalayan Glaciers, which feed the Indus Basin, are predicted to diminish further in the coming year and deplete groundwater recharge in the long run.

Similarly, in Egypt, its water supply is being threatened by the development of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the upstream stretch of the Nile River. Though the dam brings huge economic and social benefits for Ethiopia and generate energy to two-thirds of the population, Egypt could potentially lose as much as 36% of the total water supply as the dam reduces water flowing downstream. Egypt could resort to military action to protect its water resources. 

You might also like: The Looming Colorado Water Shortage Crisis

Water Is Now Traded as a Commodity 

Water has recently joined gold, oil and other commodities that can be traded on Wall Street , prompting fears that the market could dramatically further exacerbate the effects of water shortage and increase competition. 

The US’s water trade market, the first of its kind, was launched in 2020 with USD$1.1 billion in contracts tied to California water prices. It allows farmers, hedge funds, and municipalities to hedge against future water availability in California. While this could clear up uncertainty around water prices, treating water as a tradable commodity puts basic human rights in the hands of financial institutions and investors.

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Water Conservation Essay

500+ words essay on water conservation.

Water makes up 70% of the earth as well as the human body. There are millions of marine species present in today’s world that reside in water. Similarly, humankind also depends on water. All the major industries require water in some form or the other. However, this precious resource is depleting day by day. The majority of the reasons behind it are man-made only. Thus, the need for water conservation is more than ever now. Through this water conservation essay, you will realize how important it is to conserve water and how scarce it has become.

Water Scarcity- A Dangerous Issue

Out of all the water available, only three per cent is freshwater. Therefore, it is essential to use this water wisely and carefully. However, we have been doing the opposite of this till now.

Every day, we keep exploiting water for a variety of purposes. In addition to that, we also keep polluting it day in and day out. The effluents from industries and sewage discharges are dispersed into our water bodies directly.

Moreover, there are little or no facilities left for storing rainwater. Thus, floods have become a common phenomenon. Similarly, there is careless use of fertile soil from riverbeds. It results in flooding as well.

Therefore, you see how humans play a big role in water scarcity. Living in concrete jungles have anyway diminished the green cover. On top of that, we keep on cutting down forests that are a great source of conserving water.

Nowadays, a lot of countries even lack access to clean water. Therefore, water scarcity is a real thing. We must deal with it right away to change the world for our future generations. Water conservation essay will teach you how.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Water Conservation Essay – Conserving Water

Life without water is not possible. We need it for many things including cleaning, cooking, using the washroom, and more. Moreover, we need clean water to lead a healthy life.

We can take many steps to conserve water on a national level as well as an individual level. Firstly, our governments must implement efficient strategies to conserve water. The scientific community must work on advanced agricultural reforms to save water.

Similarly, proper planning of cities and promotion of water conservation through advertisements must be done. On an individual level, we can start by opting for buckets instead of showers or tubs.

Also, we must not use too much electricity. We must start planting more trees and plants. Rainwater harvesting must be made compulsory so we can benefit from the rain as well.

Further, we can also save water by turning off the tap when we brush our teeth or wash our utensils. Use a washing machine when it is fully loaded. Do not waste the water when you wash vegetables or fruit, instead, use it to water plants.

All in all, we must identify water scarcity as a real issue as it is very dangerous. Further, after identifying it, we must make sure to take steps to conserve it. There are many things that we can do on a national level as well as an individual level. So, we must come together now and conserve water.

FAQ of Water Conservation Essay

Question 1: Why has water become scarce?

Answer 1: Water has become scarce due to a lot of reasons most of which are human-made. We exploit water on a daily basis. Industries keep discharging their waste directly into water bodies. Further, sewage keeps polluting the water as well.

Question 2: How can we conserve water?

Answer 2: The government must plan cities properly so our water bodies stay clean. Similarly, water conservation must be promoted through advertisements. On an individual level, we can start by fixing all our leaky taps. Further, we must avoid showers and use buckets instead to save more water.

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Water Scarcity Essay

Essay On Water Scarcity - People require water for various purposes like cooking, cleaning, drinking, and washing, to name a few. Animals need water for their bodies to function, plants need water to pull nutrients from the soil and stay nourished, and people need water for all the reasons mentioned above. Here are 100, 200 and 500 word essays on Water Scarcity.

The lack of freshwater supplies to meet water demand is known as water scarcity. Most nations today have regulations protecting water quality and limiting water usage. Water nourishes not only the soil but also the human body. Nothing can flourish without water. Here are some sample essays on “Water Scarcity”.

100 Words Essay On Water Scarcity

All life forms on this planet require water to survive. Limited freshwater supplies to meet huge water demand is known as water shortage. The water cycle is the process through which the water that is present on earth evaporates, transforms into a vapour cloud, and then precipitates when cold weather develops.

We don't pay much attention to water because it is used and needed by humans and nature every year, yet considering this, water is simply life above and beyond the chemical component. Since the issue has gotten so bad, many states' groundwater supplies are nearly entirely depleted, forcing residents to rely on water from other sources.

200 Words Essay On Water Scarcity

More than 70% of our body weight is made up of water. For the body to function properly, water is necessary. Additionally, water makes up more than 70% of the surface of the world. We should drink water every day as it improves the functions and well-being of our bodies. Water is also required for basic necessities. Since fresh water is the only source of usable water, it is necessary for all everyday activities as well as for human health and the existence of all other living things.

Need For Water

A significant problem that affects nearly half of the world's population is the lack of availability of freshwater. Water scarcity has a variety of effects on human lives, just like climate change and global warming. It makes it harder for humans to live in various parts of the world.

Water is now a vital prerequisite for humankind to thrive on Earth, and this is without debate. Water is also one of the natural resources that we still misuse the most. Given the way things seem these days, humanity is undoubtedly to blame for its scarcity. The global water crisis cannot entirely be attributed to population growth. One of the leading causes of water scarcity is irresponsible water consumption.

500 Words Essay On Water Scarcity

Every human needs water to survive, yet in the World today, water scarcity is a severe problem that is spreading quickly. Although it is the focal point of our existence, it is regrettably not our first focus.

Causes Of Water Scarcity

The leading causes of water scarcity are poor water management and the world's expanding population. A variety of additional man-made problems are also on the rise. Some of such issues are man-made construction obstructing groundwater from being recharged naturally, excess use in agriculture and not having a general sense of awareness of how to use and prevent water pollution are some of the reasons.

Natural Causes Of Water Scarcity

Water scarcity is a result of climate change and global warming as well. One explanation for how salty water is growing daily instead of freshwater is the melting of icebergs into oceans due to the increase in temperatures. The frequency of rain has sharply declined recently. Freshwater bodies have been significantly impacted by climate change, as well as a drop in rainfall percentage.

Water use has multiplied as a result of the expanding population. The decline in water bodies and the rise in population primarily causes this scarcity. Another important factor is India's inadequate drainage and water management systems, particularly in metropolitan areas. To deliver water in urban areas, an effective water management system is necessary.

Well, In the end, altering how this problem is seen requires educating people to encourage new behaviours. All kinds of consumption, from personal use to

the distribution networks of large organisations will need to undergo significant change to adapt to the upcoming era of water shortage.

My Experience

I woke up to the sound of my alarm, feeling a sense of dread wash over me as I remembered the water scarcity situation in my town. It was around April or May, which are considered the hottest months in my town. For weeks, there had been a drought which was getting worse, and the water levels in our water storage had been steadily dropping.

As I dressed for the day, I couldn't help but worry about the future. Water was becoming increasingly scarce, and there didn't seem to be any end to the drought. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before water rationing was put into place, and the thought of standing in line for hours just to get a few gallons of water was enough to make my stomach turn.

It was hard to ignore the signs of the water crisis around me. Lawns were brown and withered, plants were dying, and the normally bustling streets were strangely quiet. As I made my way to school, I started thinking about ways to prevent water wastage and fight this water scarcity. This whole incident made me realise the importance of water in our lives.

The scarcity of freshwater is becoming a severe problem. If we do not address the issue of water scarcity today, future generations will suffer greatly and may even be forced to pay a heavy price for this basic necessity.

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• Water scarcity

Addressing the growing lack of available water to meet children’s needs.

• WASH and climate change

Even in countries with adequate water resources, water scarcity is not uncommon. Although this may be due to a number of factors — collapsed infrastructure and distribution systems, contamination, conflict, or poor management of water resources — it is clear that climate change, as well as human factors, are increasingly denying children their right to safe water and sanitation.

Water scarcity limits access to safe water for drinking and for practising basic hygiene at home, in schools and in health-care facilities. When water is scarce, sewage systems can fail and the threat of contracting diseases like cholera surges. Scarce water also becomes more expensive.

Water scarcity takes a greater toll on women and children because they are often the ones responsible for collecting it. When water is further away, it requires more time to collect, which often means less time at school. Particularly for girls, a shortage of water in schools impacts student enrolment, attendance and performance. Carrying water long distances is also an enormous physical burden and can expose children to safety risks and exploitation.

• Four billion people — almost two thirds of the world’s population —  experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year.
• Over two billion people live in countries where water supply is inadequate.
• Half of the world’s population could be living in areas facing water scarcity by as early as 2025.
• Some 700 million people could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030.
• By 2040, roughly 1 in 4 children worldwide will be living in areas of extremely high water stress.

UNICEF’s response

As the factors driving water scarcity are complex and vary widely across countries and regions, UNICEF works at multiple levels to introduce context-specific technologies that increase access to safe water and address the impacts of water scarcity. We focus on:

Identifying new water resources : We assess the availability of water resources using various technologies, including remote sensing and geophysical surveys and field investigations.

Improving the efficiency of water resources : We rehabilitate urban water distribution networks and treatment systems to reduce water leakage and contamination, promoting wastewater reuse for agriculture to protect groundwater.

Planning for urban scarcity : We plan for future water needs by identifying available resources to reduce the risk of cities running out of water.

Expanding technologies to ensure climate resilience : We support and develop climate-resilient water sources, including the use of deeper groundwater reserves through solar-powered water networks. We also advance water storage through small-scale retention structures, managed aquifer recharge (where water is pumped into underground reserves to improve its quality), and rainwater harvesting.

Changing behaviours : We work with schools and communities to promote an understanding of the value of water and the importance of its protection, including by supporting environmental clubs in schools.

Planning national water needs : We work with key stakeholders at national and sub-national levels to understand the water requirements for domestic use and for health and sanitation, and advocate to ensure that this is reflected in national planning considerations.

Supporting the WASH sector : We develop technical guidance, manuals and online training programmes for WASH practitioners to improve standards for water access.

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Reimagining WASH: Water Security for All

Multi-tiered approaches to solving the water crisis in basra, iraq, increasing water security in gaza through seawater desalination, managed aquifer recharge (mar): protecting communities from saline intrusion of groundwater in costal areas of bangladesh, groundwater early warning system for the south of madagascar, combining manual drilling and solar energy to ensure drought resilience in mauritania, using gis and remote sensing to access water in the drought-prone areas of ethiopia and madagascar, multiples uses of water in madagascar: drinking water, agriculture and livestock, wash climate resilience – compendium of cases, thirsting for a future: water and children in a changing climate.

Residents queue to fill water bottles at a natural water spring in Cape Town, South Africa, a city that may soon have to shut off its taps due to a severe water shortage.

From Not Enough to Too Much, the World’s Water Crisis Explained

Many more cities than Cape Town face an uncertain future over water. But there are emerging solutions.

“Day Zero,” when at least a million homes in the city of Cape Town, South Africa, will no longer have any running water , was originally scheduled for April. It was recently moved to July . The three-year long drought hasn’t ended, but severe water rationing—limiting people to a mere 13 gallons (50 litres) per person per day—has made a difference. (To put this into perspective, an average U.S. citizen uses 100 gallons (375 liters) per day .)

“No person in Cape Town should be flushing potable water down a toilet any more.… No one should be showering more than twice a week now,” said Helen Zille , the premier of the Western Cape province, where Cape Town is located.

Like many places in the world, Cape Town and the surrounding region has likely reached “peak water,” or the limit of how much water can be reasonably taken from the area, says water scientist Peter Gleick , president-emeritus of the Pacific Institute. Gleick, who has spent substantial time in South Africa, says the country generally has good water managers.

“Two years ago, I would not have predicted Cape Town would face day Zero,” he said in an interview. However, climate change has disrupted the Earth’s hydrological cycle (water cycle), changing when, where, and how much precipitation falls. That has made water management planning far more challenging, he said. Yet our water systems were largely built based on the more stable climate of the past.

“What’s happening in Cape Town could happen anywhere,” says Gleick.

Global Risk

Brazil’s São Paulo, a megacity of 20 million, faced its own Day Zero in 2015. The city turned off its water supply for 12 hours a day, forcing many businesses and industries to shut down . In 2008, Barcelona, Spain, had to import tankers full of freshwater from France. Droughts have also become more frequent, more severe, and affecting more people around the world.

For Hungry Minds

Fourteen of the world’s 20 megacities are now experiencing water scarcity or drought conditions. As many as four billion people already live in regions that experience severe water stress for at least one month of the year, according to a 2016 study in the journal Science Advances . Nearly half of those people live in India and China. With populations rising, these stresses will only mount.

Disaster data compiled by the U.N . clearly shows floods are also getting worse. They are happening more frequently, especially in coastal regions and river valleys, and affecting more people. Of all major disasters in the world between 1995 and 2015, 90 percent were weather-related events, such as floods, storms, heatwaves, and droughts. Flooding accounted for more than half of all weather-related disasters, affecting 2.3 billion people and killing 157,000 in that 20-year period. Last year, the costs of extreme weather—floods, droughts, wildfires, storms—in the U.S. reached a record-topping $300 billion . These events displaced more than one million Americans from their homes.

Humanity is facing a growing challenge of too much water in some places and not enough water in others. This is being driven not just by climate change, but by population and economic growth and poor water management, experts warn.

“Water scarcity and flood problems are primarily due to quick growth, increasing vulnerability, and insufficient preparation,” says Arjen Hoekstra , a professor of water management at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. “Climate change, however, is and will worsen the situation in most cases.”

The Roll of “Embedded Water”

Cape Town, where nearly four million people live, has a dry climate much like southern California. It is facing it’s Day Zero due to increased water demands from population and economic growth in combination with a three-year drought that’s severely limited the water supply. Yet what many people don’t realize is that typical home use of water—for washing, flushing, and cooking—represents only about three percent of humanity’s total water consumption, says Hoekstra. Agriculture uses the lion’s share, 80 to 90 percent, followed by energy production and industry.

Rivers Run Dry

The Cape Town region is the heart of South Africa’s wine country, which exported 113 million gallons (428.5 million litres) of wine in 2016 to Europe and the U.S. Yet this export represents a much bigger amount of water that was used to grow and process the grapes. Most of that water is no longer available for human consumption, according to Hoekstra, who is the creator of the water footprint concept. He and colleagues at the Water Footprint Network have worked out that it takes between 26 to 53 gallons (100 to 200 liters) of water to grow the grapes and process them into one five-ounce (125 ml) glass of wine.

In other words, the net amount of water used to grow or make something, be it a lemon, cellphone, or glass of wine, is the product’s water footprint. Most of the water used to make a typical glass of wine is lost to evaporation, with a small amount stored in the grapes, and the rest unsuitable for reuse. While the evaporated water will eventually become rain, it is unlikely to fall over the same vineyards, or even in the Western Cape province, meaning it is effectively “lost” to the region.

So that means a typical 25-ounce (750 ml) bottle of wine has a water footprint of nearly 200 gallons (750 liters). That means the region’s 2016 wine exports involved the net consumption of 113.2 billion gallons (428.5 billion liters) of water. This is water that is lost to the region.

South Africa already has 7 million people without access to water . Meeting their needs would require 33.3 billion gallons (126 billion liters) per year, one third of the amount the wine industry consumes. On top of that, the Western Cape exported an estimated 231,000 tonnes of citrus fruits , mostly oranges, in 2017. The water footprint of one orange—the net amount of water used to grow it—averages 21 gallons (80 liters). Using that basis, those citrus exports used up 30 billion gallons (115 billion liters) of the province’s water.

Not only does it take water to grow anything, it also takes water to make most things: cars, furniture, books, electronics, buildings, jewelry, toys, and even electricity. This water, which often goes largely unseen, is often called “virtual water.” What gets forgotten is that virtual water is as real as the water you drink.

South Africa, a water-stressed country, also exports oil products, minerals, and metals, all of which require enormous amounts of water. For example, it exported 211 tonnes of platinum in 2012. That’s like an export of 45 billion gallons (170 billion liters) of water—the estimated amount of water needed to mine and process the metal .

Other large countries with growing populations, such as China and India, also export staggering volumes of virtual water, often while facing considerable water scarcity problems at home. “This simply can’t continue,” says Hoekstra.

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Seeking solutions.

All of those exports could be produced using far less water, Hoekstra says. It starts with what he calls the most important water management strategy: grow and produce things in the right place. In other words, water-intensive crops like rice and cotton should be grown in water-rich regions.

In a global economy, drought can be a big issue even in water-rich countries, because of a growing dependence on imports. Around 38 percent of the European Union’s water consumption is reliant on water availability in other countries, to grow soybeans, rice, cotton, and other products that it imports. “That makes Europe vulnerable to increasing water scarcity and drought,” says Christopher Briggs , executive director of Water Footprint Network.

A coastal city, Cape Town hopes to solve its problem by getting a new water source: the ocean. It is building its first desalination plants . However, these are expensive and energy intensive. Gleick says it would be more cost effective for the region to shift to less-water intensive crops and to reuse treated wastewater. Currently, Cape Town reuses just five percent of its treated wastewater, compared to Israel’s 85 percent. Israel has also eliminated water-thirsty crops like cotton and made major improvements in water efficiency to free up more water for population growth.

California, which recently suffered through four years of drought and water restrictions , also needs to shift its agricultural production to less water-using crops, says Gleick, who is based there. And the state could increase its wastewater reuse from the current 15 percent, using the surplus to recharge depleted aquifers and use on crops.

A reservoir can be seen at a low level in Cape Town in February. Many other cities could suffer similar fates in the near future, experts warn.

When There’s Too Much Water

Perhaps ironically, too much water too fast was California’s most recent water problem. Following its worst wildfire season in history, heavy rainfall this winter produced mud slides that killed more than 20 people and destroyed or damaged hundreds of homes. Hurricane Harvey , which hit Texas and Louisiana last August, causing $125 billion in damage, dumped more water out of the sky than any storm in U.S. history. Some 890,000 families sought federal disaster aid, most often from flooding in the Houston area—in large part because many homes were built on flood plains . At the start of March, five states were under a state of emergency (Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, and Michigan) due to heavy rainfalls and flooding.

Rapid population growth, building on floodplains or low-lying coastal regions, and climate change are the biggest reasons why flooding is affecting more people and causing ever greater damage, warns Gleick.

Climate change is the result of burning fossil fuels and has added 46 percent more heat-trapping carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. But even if fossil-fuel used ended today, that additional heat in the atmosphere will put 10 times more Americans at risk of being flooded out by rivers over the next 20 years, a new study reveals .

“More than half of the United States must at least double their protection level within the next two decades if they want to avoid a dramatic increase in river flood risks,” says lead-author Sven Willner from Germany’s Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).

Rainfall changes caused by global warming will increase river flood risks across the globe, the study found. In South America, the number of people affected by river flooding will likely increase from 6 to 12 million. In Africa, the number will rise from 25 to 34 million, and in Asia from 70 to 156 million.

It bears repeating that these findings are based on the current level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In reality, humanity added 45 billion tons in 2017, and will likely add that much or more in 2018. Without limiting human-caused warming to well below 3.6 degrees F (2 degrees Celsius), the river flood risk in many regions will be beyond what we can adapt to, Willner and team’s study concludes.

Climate change is also causing sea levels to rise, resulting in substantial coastal flooding during high tides and storms. More than 13 million Americans living on the coasts will be forced to move by 2100 because of rising ocean levels, according to a 2017 study by Mathew Hauer, a demographer at the University of Georgia. About 2.5 million will flee the region that includes Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. Greater New Orleans loses up to 500,000 people; the New York City area loses 50,000, the study estimated. These coastal migrants will likely go to cities on high ground with mild climates, such as Atlanta, Austin, Madison, and Memphis. ( See what would happen if all the ice melted .)

“If people are forced to move because their houses become inundated, the migration could affect many landlocked communities as well,” said Hauer in a statement.

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Have we been talking about climate change all wrong?

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• Scarcity Of Water

Water Scarcity

Scarcity is basically defined as the state of being scarce or in short supply; shortage.

What is water scarcity?

Water Scarcity signifies the shortage of water, an imbalance between the demand and supply of water, also a good quality of water i.e. potable water .

Water is a very important resource, we use water for almost every activity like drinking, washing, cooking, cleaning, etc. This precious resource is largely getting wasted due to human carelessness and lack of planning and hence we are facing the scarcity of water. According to the United Nations, a person needs a minimum of 50 litres of water per day for his basic needs of hygiene, cooking and drinking. But there is a large population which fails to receive this small quantity of water and hence most of the population is getting affected by water scarcity.

Insufficient intake of water causes kidney problems, constipation, and various mental changes. Blood pressure and heat flow in our body are maintained by water. The usable water present on earth, therefore, needs to be saved in order to live a healthy and sustainable life.

Table of Contents

Causes of water scarcity, recommended videos, water conservation.

• Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
• Even though about 71% of earth’s surface is covered with water, most of this water is not fit for consumption. Freshwater is the only source of useful water which is present in very small quantity thus limiting the accessibility to potable water.
• Rainwater is an important source of fresh water. It needs to be harvested so that it can be put to use.
• Human society is overusing water and in many cases wasting it.
• Loss of water due to leakages, excessive use of water for washing purposes, taps left open after use are some common sights that form the basis of the problem of water scarcity.
• Due to the large increase in population, the demand is much more than supply.
• Due to industrialization and urbanization has hugely increased the consumption of water.

Conservation of water is needed with immediate effect to sustain life on earth. If the scarcity of water increases there will be a point when the survival of human species, Homo sapiens will be under threat. We need to develop habits that emphasize on saving water. Water pollution should be checked as an entire aquatic ecosystem is dependent on this.

For More Information On Conservation Of Water, Watch The Below Video:

This article shows the importance of water in our daily lives. All the living organisms require water for various biological processes and hence water is a necessary element for sustaining life on earth. But water is not the only necessity to sustain life, there is a scarcity of products for living beings.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

What do you mean by scarcity of water.

Water scarcity either indicate scarcity of availability due to physical scarcity or scarcity of access due to the lack of daily supply by institutions or due to a lack of sufficient infrastructure. Any continent is now plagued by water shortage.

How does water scarcity affect the environment?

The resultant overuse of water associated with water shortages, mostly located in irrigation agriculture, is detrimental to the environment in a variety of respects, including increased salinity, nitrogen degradation, and the depletion of floodplains and wetlands.

What are the impacts of water scarcity?

In these four wide fields, wellness, hunger, education, and insecurity, the consequences of water shortages can be clustered together. Dying off, people. Less water also suggests that sewage does not flow, and mosquitoes breed on still (stagnant) polluted water like most insects. Deadly malaria and other diseases are the result.

How is water wasted?

When brushing their teeth, shaving or doing the dishes, one of the most common ways people waste water is by keeping the water flowing. As soon as you begin cleaning, shaving or doing the dishes, switching the tap off. Fill one sink with clean rinsing water and one with soapy water for cleaning the dishes.

What are the economic impacts of water scarcity?

In a world economy, the price of exchanged goods and services is influenced by water shortage. Liu et al. (2009) indicates that for countries that manufacture water-intensive products, water shortages will result in trade losses. When, however these behaviours are subsidized, the distortion is exacerbated even.

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108 Water Scarcity Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best water scarcity topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 good research topics about water scarcity, 🔎 interesting topics to write about water scarcity, ❓ research questions about water scarcity.

• Water Scarcity as a Global Issue: Causes and Solutions Common causes of water scarcity include overpopulation e in regions that have limited water resources, global warming, destruction of water catchment areas by human activities, and pollution of water sources.
• America’s Growing Clean Water Crisis and the Resulting Diseases The current water crisis in Flint, Michigan, has focused a lot of attention on the state of water infrastructure. Lastly, there will be a not adequate amount of water to help in dissolving the nutrients […]
• Factors of the Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan The factors that caused the water crisis in this city can be considered negligence of the authorities, ambiguous and contradictory instructions of environmental protection agencies, and corruption.
• Environmental Racism: The Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan The situation is a manifestation of environmental racism and classism since most of the city’s population is people of color and poor. Thus, the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, is a manifestation of environmental racism […]
• Flint Water Crisis: Municipal Water Supply System The city of Flint was a thriving industrial center in the third quarter of the last century; however, it had economic difficulties due to the closure of several General Motors factories in the 1980s and […]
• The Flint Water Crisis and Its Impact The contaminated water has lead to a number of diseases and disabilities, which, in turn, has left the city’s population with a large number of healthcare bills. In conclusion, the Flint Water Crisis is an […]
• The Flint Water Crisis From Marxist Perspective To understand the causes of the crisis and ways to prevent such problems in the future, it is possible to employ the Marxist approach.
• Water Scarcity in Africa and Mental Disorders Partially, the reason for the lack of meaningful changes in the policies preventing the causes lies in the social stigma towards patients with mental problems.
• Flint Water Crisis: Environmental Racism and Racial Capitalism The Flint crisis is a result of the neoliberal approach of the local state as opposed to the typical factors of environmental injustice; a polluter or a reckless emitter cutting costs. The two main factors […]
• Water Scarcity Problem in Sub-Saharan Africa Since the world has water in abundance, it is necessary that more be done to address the shortage of clean water.
• Newark Water Crisis: Water Pollution Problem The main problem was rooted in the fact that lead levels in the drinking water were highly elevated, which is dangerous and detrimental to the population’s health.
• Water Scarcity: Industrial Projects of Countries That Affect the External Environment With the demise of the Yellow River in China, the government started a project to transfer water from the Yangtze River to the northern plains of the country to support farming activities.
• Jordan’s Water Crisis and Response In particular, the facts about enmity with Israel exacerbate the local political situation, and in the face of the shortage of this valuable natural resource, the struggle for control over the Dead Sea becomes fiercer.
• Baja California Water Crisis and Its Impact The brewery that is being constructed near the cities of Mexicali and Gallegos by a large corporation is the example of the fact that the situation tends to worsen.
• How Saudi Arabia Can Overcome Economic Water Crisis? In Saudi Arabia, the water sector has undergone significant transformation as the government tries to mitigate water crisis. The problem of the economic water crisis in Saudi Arabia cannot be attributed only to natural causes.
• Water Crisis Resolution and Investments Based on the factors mentioned above, it could be said that the primary goal of the paper is to discuss the issue of the water crisis, as it is of paramount importance for the survival […]
• Water Crisis, Oceans and Sea Turtles Issues In the case of Mexico, it appears that the past regimes have never put a lot of focus on the utilization of water resources.
• World Water Needs: Water Scarcity Problem in Australia Water is one of the most critical resources that support the sustainability of life and the development of a country’s economy.
• Water Scarcity, Marketing, and Privatisation In a quick rejoinder, the report by the UNEP, excessive pumping of water from rivers and lakes to support agriculture threatens to dry up water sources.
• Water Crisis in the Documentary “Chinatown” Water is a critical commodity in the film because it motivates every character, causes conflicts, and affects the lives of the ranchers and farmers in the community. The movie explains why the water demands of […]
• Blue Gold: Global Water Crisis The issue of water is a global affair because of the alarming rate at which limited fresh water reservoirs is depleted. Globally, the amount of fresh water is dropping and it is believed that fresh […]
• Scarcity of Water in Saudi Arabia, Africa and Australia Moreover, the destruction of forests, the destruction of water catchments, and the pollution of fresh water sources have also played together in contributing to the reduction of water resources.
• Global Water Scarcity Causes and Solutions The water consumption patterns across the global vary making the water scarcity and depletion of its sources worse. Concentrations of these gases increase the temperature of the surface of the planet.
• Trend Analysis: Water Scarcity Issue This is a worrying aspect for the scarcity of water will lead to greater conflict for water. As agriculture is the sector that uses maximum water resources, with increase in population will face a dual […]
• Water Scarcity and Its Effects on the Environment The core objective of this research paper is to examine water scarcity and its effects to the environment. This is because sufficiency of water supply depends on water conservation methods, distribution channels available in the […]
• Pesticide Usage and Water Scarcity Water management is a tool for every person to reduce the water shortage. Increase in water price is likely to reduce the consumption as this reduces water wastage.
• Water Crisis in UAE Ali comments that “the consumption level of water exceeds the available sources” while Boberg asserts that “water is one of the resources that is scarce” made an analysis of the water crisis in UAE based […]
• Can Virtual Water ‘Trade’ Reduce Water Scarcity in Semi-Arid Countries? The Case of Spain
• Water Stress, Water Transfer and Social Equity in Northern China: Implications for Policy Reforms
• Climate Change, Water Scarcity in Agriculture and the Economy-Wide Impacts in a CGE Framework
• Global Water Crisis and Future Food Security in an Era of Climate Change
• Economic and Social Impacts of the Water Crisis
• Rainfall and Human Density and Its Implications for Future Water Stress in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Water Management From Tradition to Second Modernity: An Analysis of the Water Crisis in Iran
• Creative and Innovative Solutions to Water Scarcity
• The Flint Water Crisis and Global Warming
• Electricity Prices, River Temperatures, and Cooling Water Scarcity
• Assessing the Economic Impact of North China’s Water Scarcity Mitigation Strategy
• Deficit Irrigation Under Water Stress and Salinity Conditions: The MOPECO-Salt Model
• Soil Water Content Criteria for Peach Trees Water Stress Detection During the Postharvest Period
• Future Water Scarcity in Computable General Equilibrium Models
• Using Radiation Thermography and Thermometry to Evaluate Crop Water Stress in Soybean and Cotton
• Coping With Water Scarcity: The Governance Challenge
• Estimating the Causal Effect of Water Scarcity on the Groundwater Use Efficiency of Rice Farming in South India
• Instruments for Understanding Agricultural Household Adaptation to Climate Change: Water Stress and Variability
• China’s Regional Water Scarcity and Implications for Grain Supply and Trade
• Environmental and Resource Costs Under Water Scarcity Conditions
• Relationships Between Normalized Leaf Water Potential and Crop Water Stress Index Values for Acala Cotton
• Australian Water Crisis for Demand and Supply
• Spinach Biomass Yield and Physiological Response to Interactive Salinity and Water Stress
• Clean Water Scarcity, Its Policy, and Conservation Measures
• Preventing the Last Drop: Facing the Water Crisis
• Water Scarcity and Its Effects on the Environment
• Drought and Water Scarcity Management Policy in England and Wales
• Food Security for Sub-Saharan Africa: Does Water Scarcity Limit the Options?
• Beyond Water Stress: Structural Adjustment and Macroeconomic Consequences of the Emerging Water Scarcity
• Groundwater Pollution and Drinking Water Scarcity
• Addressing China’s Water Scarcity: Recommendations for Selected Water Resource Management Issues
• Dealing With Water Scarcity: Need for Economy-Wide Considerations and Institutions
• Groundwater Markets Under the Water Scarcity and Declining Water Table Conditions
• Does Water Scarcity Shift the Electricity Generation Mix Toward Fossil Fuels? Empirical Evidence From the United States
• Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and Adaptation in the U.S. Fieldcrop Sector
• Evaluating the Crop Water Stress Index and Its Correlation With Latent Heat and CO2 Fluxes
• Water Crisis in India – Side Effect of Climate Change
• Local Water Stress Impacts on Global Supply Chains: Network Configuration and Natural Capital Perspectives
• Water Scarcity and the Impact of the Mining and Agricultural Sectors in Chile
• Land Use, Water Rights, and Water Scarcity in Manupali Watershed, Southern Philippines
• Farm Households’ Resilience Scale Under Water Scarcity
• Agriculture, Population, Land and Water Scarcity in a Changing World – The Role of Irrigation
• Water Scarcity – Future Uses and Implications for Policy
• Potential Benefits From Innovations to Reduce Heat and Water Stress in Agriculture
• Whole-Plant Metabolic Allocation Under Water Stress
• Iran’s Water Crisis: Inducers, Challenges, and Countermeasures
• Grape Composition under Abiotic Constraints: Water Stress and Salinity
• Interaction Between Light and Water Stress in Plants
• Causes Implications and Intervention Strategies: Water Scarcity
• Water Scarcity: Economic Approaches To Improving Management
• Which Country Suffers the Most From Water Scarcity?
• How Is Water Pollution and Water Scarcity Related in India?
• What Are the Characteristics of Water Scarcity?
• Does Water Scarcity Shift the Electricity Generation Mix Toward Fossil Fuels?
• Why Do So Many Countries Face Water Scarcity?
• What Is the Difference Between Water Stress and Water Scarcity?
• How Has Globalization Impacted Water Scarcity?
• Will Growing More Trees Help in Solving the Water Scarcity Problem?
• Is Water Scarcity a Growing Problem in the World?
• What Caused Water Scarcity in Australia?
• How Will Businesses Take Advantage of the Impending Water Scarcity?
• Can the Desalination Technics Definitively Solve the Water Scarcity Issue?
• How Can the Problem of Water Scarcity in the Hilly Region Be Solved?
• What Is the Nature of China’s Water Scarcity Problems?
• Has Any Country Overcome Water Scarcity Since 2000?
• Is Water Scarcity Directly Related to Energy Demand?
• What Are the Steps Taken by Governments to Solve the Water Scarcity Problem?
• How Should We Address the Worldwide Problem of Water Scarcity?
• Can a Wet Country Like Scotland Face Water Scarcity?
• Will Drought and Water Scarcity in India Become Serious Issues?
• Are There Any Steps Taken to Escape the Severe Water Scarcity in the Future?
• How Does Water Scarcity Affect People Around the World?
• What Is the Difference Between Physical Water Scarcity and Economic Water Scarcity?
• Can a Nuclear Fallout Cause Water Scarcity?
• How Does Water Scarcity Affect Poverty?
• Will House Prices Go Down in Bangalore in Coming Years Due to Water Scarcity?
• How Does Water Scarcity Affect Animals?
• What Is the Economic Impact of Drinking Water Scarcity in India?
• Are Solutions to Water Scarcity in the UK Environmental or Technological?
• How Is Water Scarcity Affecting the United States?
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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Water Scarcity — Water Crisis: Understanding the Causes and Seeking Solutions

Water Crisis: Understanding The Causes and Seeking Solutions

• Categories: Environmental Issues Water Scarcity

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Published: Jan 28, 2021

Words: 1019 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Table of contents

Causes of the water crisis, consequences of the water crisis, seeking solutions to the water crisis.

• Invest in water storage, distribution, and treatment infrastructure.
• Implement smart technologies for monitoring and controlling water usage.
• Promote efficient water allocation and pricing mechanisms.
• Encourage farmers to adopt precision agriculture techniques.
• Promote the use of drought-resistant crop varieties.
• Implement efficient irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation.
• Reduce excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides.
• Promote water conservation at the individual and community levels.
• Fix water leaks and encourage the use of low-flow appliances.
• Educate the public on water-saving habits.
• Invest in advanced wastewater treatment facilities.
• Implement stricter regulations on industrial and agricultural wastewater discharge.
• Promote the recycling and reuse of treated wastewater (water reclamation).
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable energy sources.
• Support afforestation and reforestation efforts to maintain water catchment areas.
• Develop and implement climate-resilient water management strategies.
• ABC News. (2019). Chennai's the latest city to have almost run out of water, and other cities could follow suit. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06- 22/chennais-telling-the-globe-a-story-about-water-scarcity/11229084
• Ceranic, I. (2018). Perth rainfall is higher than Melbourne, Hobart, London despite reputation for sunny beaches. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018- 04-24/perth-rainfall-higher-than-melbourne-hobart-and-london/9688142
• Green Water Plumbing. (2019). Water Crisis: Is Australia Running Out of Water? Retrieved from https://www.greenplanetplumbing.com.au/water-crisis-is- australia-running-out-of-water/
• Juneja, P. (n.d.). The Economic Impact of Cape Town’s Water Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.managementstudyguide.com/economic-impact-of-cape-town-water- crisis.htm
• Qureshi, M. E.; Hanjra, Munir A.; Ward, J. (2013). Impact of water scarcity in Australia on global food security in an era of climate change. Food Policy, 38:136-145. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2012.11.003
• Thirumurthy, P. The News Minute. (2019). Chennai water crisis: Schools closes down for junior classes, others declare half-day. Retrieved from https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/chennai-water-crisis-school-closes-down- junior-classes-others-declare-half-day-103919
• United Nations. (2014). Water for Life Decade: Water scarcity. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/scarcity.shtml
• Wright, I. (2017). This is what Australia’s growing cities need to do to avoid running dry. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/this-is-what-australias-growing-cities- need-to-do-to-avoid-running-dry-86301
• Lakshmi, K. (2019). Chennai’s Day Zero: It’s not just meteorology but mismanagement that’s made the city run dry. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/sci- tech/energy-and-environment/chennais-day-zero-its-not-just-meteorology-but- mismanagement-thats-made-the-city-run-dry/article28197491.ece

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• Published: 23 May 2024

Current and future global water scarcity intensifies when accounting for surface water quality

• Edward R. Jones   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5388-7774 1 ,
• Marc F. P. Bierkens   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-7411-6562 1 , 2 &
• Michelle T. H. van Vliet   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2597-8422 1  

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• Water resources

The inadequate availability of clean water presents systemic risks to human health, food production, energy generation and ecosystem functioning. Here we evaluate population exposure to current and future water scarcity (both excluding and including water quality) using a coupled global hydrological and surface water quality model. We find that 55% of the global population are currently exposed to clean water scarcity at least one month per year, compared with 47% considering water quantity aspects only. Exposure to clean water scarcity at least one month per year increases to 56–66% by the end of the century. Increases in future exposure are typically largest in developing countries—particularly in sub-Saharan Africa—driven by a combination of water quantity and quality aspects. Strong reductions in both anthropogenic water use and pollution are therefore necessary to minimize the impact of future clean water scarcity on humans and the environment.

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Future global urban water scarcity and potential solutions

A triple increase in global river basins with water scarcity due to future pollution

Sub-Saharan Africa will increasingly become the dominant hotspot of surface water pollution

Data availability.

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Code availability

The coupled global hydrological model and water resources model (PCR-GLOBWB 2) and global surface water quality model (DynQual) are freely available via Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7932317 (ref.  55 ) and via GitHub at https://github.com/UU-Hydro/ .

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Acknowledgements

E.R.J. and M.T.H.v.V. were financially supported by the Netherlands Scientific Organisation (NWO) by a VIDI grant (VI.Vidi.193.019). M.T.H.v.V. was also financially supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 101039426 B-WEX). E.R.J. acknowledges and thanks the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) for the grant that enabled us to use the national supercomputer Snellius (project no. EINF-3999).

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The study was designed by E.R.J., M.F.P.B. and M.T.H.v.V. Data processing, analysis and interpretation were led by E.R.J. in consultation with M.F.P.B. and M.T.H.v.V. E.R.J. led the paper writing, and all authors approved the paper.

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Extended data

Extended data fig. 1 population exposure to water scarcity in the east asia & pacific region under uncertain climate and socio-economic change..

a) Number of people exposed to water scarcity from 2005–2100, based on indicators considering water quantity only ( WS ) and including water quality ( WSq ). Thick lines and thin lines display the annual average and monthly average exposure to water scarcity, respectively, while shaded areas represent uncertainty arising from variations in GCM simulations as ±1 s.d. b) Percentage of the population exposed to seasonal (that is at least one month per year) and year-round (>9 months per year) water scarcity from 2005–2100, as indicated by WS and WSq . Lines display the mean average exposure per year averaged over the five GCMs considered, while shaded areas represent uncertainty arising from variations in GCM simulations as ±1 s.d. c) Percentage of the population exposed to water scarcity in each month, as indicated by WS and WSq . Boxplots are made based on monthly exposure to water scarcity across all GCMs for a historical reference period (2005–2020) and under three global change scenarios at the end of the century (2081–2100).

Extended Data Fig. 2 Population exposure to water scarcity in the Eastern Europe & Central Asia region under uncertain climate and socio-economic change.

Extended data fig. 3 population exposure to water scarcity in the latin america & caribbean region under uncertain climate and socio-economic change., extended data fig. 4 population exposure to water scarcity in the middle east & north africa region under uncertain climate and socio-economic change., extended data fig. 5 population exposure to water scarcity in the north america region under uncertain climate and socio-economic change., extended data fig. 6 population exposure to water scarcity in the southern asia region under uncertain climate and socio-economic change., extended data fig. 7 population exposure to water scarcity in the sub-saharan africa region under uncertain climate and socio-economic change., extended data fig. 8 population exposure to water scarcity in the western europe region under uncertain climate and socio-economic change., supplementary information, supplementary information.

Supplementary Figs. 1–4, Tables 1–4 and Discussion.

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Jones, E.R., Bierkens, M.F.P. & van Vliet, M.T.H. Current and future global water scarcity intensifies when accounting for surface water quality. Nat. Clim. Chang. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02007-0

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The global clean water crisis looms large

Water scarcity will intensify with climate and socioeconomic change, disproportionately impacting populations located in the Global South. So concludes a new Utrecht University article published in Nature Climate Change on 23 May 2024, which used a state-of-the-art global water quantity and quality model to estimate clean water scarcity until the end of the century.

Humans require clean water for drinking and sanitation purposes, but also for the production of food, energy and manufactured goods. As communities and policymakers grapple with water scarcity issues on the ground, researchers at Utrecht University aim to shed light on the escalating global clean water crisis.

Current and future water scarcity

Using simulations from a state-of-the-art water quantity and quality model, the authors assess present-day and future global water scarcity. "Climate change and socioeconomic developments have multi-faceted impacts on the availability and quality of, and demands for, water resources in the future," says lead author Dr. Edward Jones. "Changes in these three aspects are crucial for evaluating future water scarcity."

The study estimates that 55% of the global population currently lives in areas that experience a lack of clean water in at least one month per year. "By the end of the century, this may be as high as 66%," remarks Jones.

Strong regional differences in future water scarcity

While global water scarcity is projected to intensify in the future, both the changes and impacts will not occur equally across all world regions. Future increases in water scarcity in Western Europe and North America, for example, are concentrated in just a few months of the year -- predominantly driven by water quantity aspects. Conversely, water scarcity increases in developing countries are typically more widespread in space and persist for a larger portion of the year.

Jones remarks, "Increases in future exposure are largest in the Global South. These are typically driven by a combination of rapid population and economic growth, climate change and deteriorating water quality."

Quality: the invisible part of water scarcity

Water quality -- despite being crucial for safe water use -- remains an under-represented component of water scarcity assessments. "Previous assessments still predominantly focus on water quantity aspects only," explains Jones. "Yet, the safe use of water also depends on the quality."

Therefore, a key aim of this study was also to normalise the inclusion of water quality in water scarcity assessments -- and in the design of management strategies for alleviating water scarcity.

Jones concludes, "The lack of clean water presents a systemic risk to both humans and ecosystems, which is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Our work highlights that, alongside substantially reducing our water demands, we must place an equally strong focus on eliminating water pollution in order to turn the tide on the global water crisis."

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• Edward R. Jones, Marc F. P. Bierkens, Michelle T. H. van Vliet. Current and future global water scarcity intensifies when accounting for surface water quality . Nature Climate Change , 2024; DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02007-0

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Water Scarcity Part 1: Cause and Casualty

How water stress is impacting business and supply chains as global temperatures soar.

This Spotlight article — the first in a three-part series — considers the key drivers of water scarcity and its direct and indirect impact on business and society.

Executive summary

Humans have successfully harnessed many of the world's natural waterways for millennia, for irrigation and to support the growth of civilizations. But today, many of these vital water tables, rivers, lakes, and aquifers are drying up.

Demand for water is projected to outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, driven by macrotrends such as population growth, urbanization and climate change.

The tussle over rights to water is particularly acute in developing nations where supplies are finite.

Many industries are vulnerable to water scarcity, while also directly contributing to the depletion of freshwater resources.

• Building resilience will require sustainable water management approaches, strategic partnerships and investment.
• Demand for water is set to outstrip supply by 40% by 2030. 1 Population growth, urbanization and climate change are among the drivers.
• Currently, water scarcity and poor sanitation cost the global economy $260 billion a year. 2
• Many industry sectors are vulnerable to water stress, while also directly contributing to the depletion of freshwater resources.
• The tussle over rights to channel water away from communities to agriculture and construction projects is a growing source of social unrest.
• It's not just drought-prone regions that are waking up to the realities of water scarcity. There are implications across the value chain that impact an organization's total water footprint.

Waiting for monsoon

It's March in Bengaluru, and many trees lining the thronging highway that links Kempegowda International Airport to the central business district are dusty and brown in the dry 35°C (95°F) heat. The local government is urging migrant workers to leave the city and residents to use water sparingly to alleviate the drinking water crisis.

The once lush garden city faces a severe and prolonged drought, exacerbated by a weak monsoon in 2023. All around are signs of a construction boom, which is reducing Bengaluru's ability to replenish its water table. Last year, farmers took part in a number of strikes over access to water from the Cauvery River system and its reservoirs, which are experiencing a five-year low.

The strain is palpable. A population of over 14 million, continued urbanization and crop cultivation in Karnataka and neighboring Tamil Nadu are all competing for one essential resource: Water.

Water scarcity is a global crisis impacting communities, businesses and supply chains. In some regions, the pressures are so great they are creating energy blackouts and involuntary migration, and spilling over into social unrest.

"In parts of North Africa, there have been a number of consecutive drought years, which we have never seen before," says Antoine Bavandi, executive director, head of Public/Private Solutions, Gallagher Re.

"It's such an extreme and prolonged drought the consequences are disrupting the entire economy, including many livelihoods within the agricultural sector. The little water that is still available is being diverted from irrigated agriculture to urban centers, resulting in waves of migration."

Water stress: How did we get here?

Humans have successfully harnessed many of the world's natural waterways for millennia. Ancient Egyptians and Romans successfully used sophisticated irrigation and aqueducts to support the growth of civilizations. But today, many valuable water tables, rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up.

According to the United Nations (UN), demand for water is projected to outstrip supply by 40% by 2030. 3 It warns that macro trends, such as population growth, urbanization and climate change, are contributing to severe water stress.

Currently, water scarcity and poor sanitation cost the global economy an estimated $260 billion a year. 4

The El Nino effect

Many parts of the world are experiencing more frequent and extreme heatwaves and droughts because of the climate crisis. Natural cycles, such as El Nino, are further contributing to climate extremes.

In Mexico City, officials warn that Day Zero could be looming, when the water system can no longer support its 22 million residents, forcing individuals to queue for rations. Day Zero could come as soon as June 26, 2024 and last until September 2024, as many parts of the country suffer extreme drought. 5

"You are always going to have these pendulum swings between El Nino and La Nina phases," says Steve Bowen, chief science officer at Gallagher Re. "Taking this into account, we can expect more extreme weather events in the future due to climate change. This has implications for food availability, harvests, shipping channels and overall circulation patterns."

"Climate risk goes much deeper than the surface," he adds. "The downstream implications can be significant and lead to difficulties from a humanitarian standpoint."

According to Gallagher Re, below-average rainfall has worsened drought conditions in many parts of the world over the past 12 months — including the highly vulnerable regions of south-central Africa last year, where there was an ongoing crisis for local communities. 6

In Asia, exceptional drought conditions were observed in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, with saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta contaminating the water supplies that communities and farmers rely upon in these countries.

Freshwater contamination

Pollution contributes to water stress by rendering freshwater supplies unsafe and unusable. Around 80% of wastewater globally is estimated to be discharged without being treated and/or reused, a figure that rises to 90% in developing countries. 7

Rapid urbanization and the intensification of farming are among the practices contaminating waterways and aggravating water scarcity issues. 8 Meanwhile, saltwater intrusion into rivers and groundwater is becoming more commonplace due to changes in rainfall patterns and the increased frequency and severity of droughts.

Last summer, a state of emergency was declared in New Orleans, Louisiana, as saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico made its way up the Mississippi towards the southern US city. 9 As river levels dropped, seawater moved upstream, threatening the city's main source of fresh drinking water.

Industries adapt to new normal of water stress

Many industry sectors are vulnerable to water stress while also directly contributing to the depletion of freshwater resources.

It's not just drought-prone regions that are waking up to the realities of water scarcity. There are implications across the value chain — encompassing raw materials, suppliers, direct operations and product use — which impact an organization's total water footprint.

Among the top exposures to industries as a result of water stress are:

• Business interruption, contingent business interruption and supply chain disruption;
• Environmental liability;
• Social unrest and geopolitical risk;
• Inflation and higher operational costs;
• Reputation and brand risk; and
• Stakeholder and regulatory pressures.

"I've worked with a number of manufacturers which rely upon the availability of water for their production," says Hugh Morris, Risk Management Consultant team leader, Risk Management Solutions, Gallagher UK.

"We have seen companies install large water tanks so that they do have some contingency, if there is a mains break, for instance. It's one of those issues where companies have to think about how they keep their facilities operational if there isn't a reliable supply of water," he adds.

"It's impractical for companies with a heavy reliance on process water to just tanker it in, because of the volume required in any sort of manufacturing process and the costs involved. With boreholes and natural springs, the water table may drop and then that becomes an issue."

The UK experienced one of its wettest winters on record in 2023/2024, yet some local councils are warning of water use restrictions come the summer. 10

The combination of hotter, drier summers, pollution and the inability to capture excess water during wetter months due to chronic underinvestment in wastewater infrastructure are some of the factors at play.

To increase resilience in the face of a changing climate, the UK Environment Agency is proposing the development of desalination schemes, in addition to reservoirs and water recycling schemes, over the next 25 years. Without it, the country risks facing a shortfall of five billion liters of water per day by 2050. 11

Ripples across the supply chain

There are direct and indirect impacts to businesses arising from water shortages. Some of the secondary challenges relating to water shortages include disruptions to supply chains, heightened energy and food insecurity and higher operational costs.

In some parts of the world, including Brazil and China, energy blackouts have become more prevalent during years of drought. As reservoirs dry up, hydroelectricity plants are unable to operate.

"A lot of UK businesses have products, components and materials supplied from elsewhere in the world," says Morris of Gallagher UK. "We've started to see those organizations looking a little bit more carefully at their supply chain in terms of the global issues that could impact their suppliers."

He continues, "It's important not just to think about who your suppliers are from the point of view of their financial viability, quality control and exposure to natural perils, for instance, but also if they will continue to be viable if there are water scarcity problems."

In a world of growing climate extremes, too little and too much water can disrupt global trade. During the first quarter of 2024, drought caused marine bottlenecks in the Panama Canal, as record low water levels resulting in restrictions on daily crossings. 12

Too much water can also be an issue for transportation and logistics, resulting in floods and river currents that are too strong for vessels to navigate safely.

"This variability in water availability has implications for supply chains, energy delivery, health and other areas," says Gallagher Re's Bowen. "It can lead to higher inflation and increased costs for labor supply. Climate risk affects various sectors and has cyclical effects. It puts financial pressure on businesses and that gets passed down to consumers."

The politics of water

A single issue rarely causes political instability; however, water scarcity can be a contributing factor. As water stress becomes more prevalent, businesses are likely to see more disruption. Community strikes in Bengaluru last year are just one example.

The tussle over rights to channel water towards construction and urban projects remains controversial. This tension is particularly acute in developing nations where water supplies are finite and the needs of communities aren't always a priority.

"There are so many issues around industry and land use, where we are seeing population growth, and there is a significant risk of not having enough drinking water," notes Bowen.

In water-stressed regions, disputes over access to water have even given rise to interstate conflicts. In the Middle East, just 1% of the world's freshwater is shared among 5% of the global population, with long-standing disputes stemming from access rights to the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. 13

The World Economic Forum warns that "intensifying competition for resources could spark disputes over dwindling freshwater sources" on a domestic level, while internationally, "changes to agricultural production and water availability could alter global trade patterns and alliances." 14

Conclusion: Time to decouple

Based on current trends, governments will need to spend $200 billion a year to meet the water needs of society and industry. However, most countries have a mixed track record in managing their water resources.

The UN Environment Programme warns that more must be done to decouple water use from economic growth to stave off the looming crisis. 15 In this context, decoupling means reducing the use of water per unit of economic activity.

There are a number of strategies for reducing water use in heavy industry. In sectors such as energy and manufacturing, for instance, more efficient use of water in heating and cooling processes and in the transportation of goods can make a big difference to an organization's water footprint.

In part 2 of the series, we will look in more depth at the impact of water scarcity across five key industry sectors. Part 3 considers the essential role of risk mitigation and insurance solutions as businesses adapt to the new normal and build resilience for the future.

1 " Global Freshwater Demand Will Exceed Supply 40% by 2030, Experts Warn ," World Economic Forum , 22 Mar 2023.

2 " Universal Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene — 2021 Priorities ," UNICEF , 28 Apr 2021. PDF file.

3 " Half the World to Face Severe Water Stress by 2030 Unless Water Use is "Decoupled" from Economic Growth, Says International Resource Panel ," UN Environment Programme , 21 Mar 2016.

4 " The Water Crisis ," Water.org , accessed 17 May 2024.

5 " Monitor de Sequía en México ," Gobierno de Mexico, 3 May 2024.

6 " Q1 2024 Gallagher Re Natural Catastrophe and Climate Report ," Gallagher Re, 17 Apr 2024. PDF file.

7 " Wastewater A Resource that Can Pay Dividends for People, the Environment, and Economies, Says World Bank ," The World Bank , 19 Mar 2020.

8 Wang, Mengru et al. " A Triple Increase in Global River Basins With Water Scarcity Due to Future Pollution ," Nature Communications , 6 Feb 2024.

9 Davis, Darreonna. " What Is Saltwater Intrusion? Gulf of Mexico Invading Louisiana's Drinking Water as Drought Drains Mississippi River ," Forbes , 27 Sept 2023.

10 Horton, Helena. " UK at Risk of Summer Water Shortages and Hosepipe Bans, Scientists Warn ," The Guardian , 1 Apr 2024.

11 " A Summary of England's Revised Draft Regional and Water Resources Management Plans ," GOV.UK, 21 Mar 2024.

12 Giraldo, Marion. " Panama Canal Drought Could Threaten Supply Chain, S&P Says ," Reuters , 4 Apr 2024.

13 Alaaldin, Ranj. " Climate Change May Devastate the Middle East. Here's How Governments Should Tackle It ," Brookings, 14 Mar 2022.

14 Zahidi, Saadia. " The Global Risks Report 2024 19th Edition ," World Economic Forum , Jan 2024. PDF file.

15 " Options for Decoupling Economic Growth from Water Use and Water Pollution ," UN Environment Programme , 2015. PDF download.

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