Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient fresh water to meet demand. It affects over 2 billion people. Some live in dry regions with little rainfall. Others live in wet places where water is polluted or poorly managed. Scarcity is not just about quantity. Quality matters too. A river that is too contaminated to drink is not a usable resource.

Agriculture consumes about 70 percent of freshwater withdrawals. Growing crops for food and livestock feed takes enormous volumes. Industry uses another 20 percent. Households use the rest. As populations grow and diets shift toward more meat, demand rises. Climate change alters rainfall patterns, making dry areas drier and wet areas more variable.

Solutions are known. Drip irrigation cuts water use dramatically. Recycling wastewater for irrigation and industry helps. Fixing leaks in aging pipes saves billions of liters. Desalination provides water in coastal areas but uses a lot of energy. Pricing water realistically encourages conservation. The challenge is political. Water is often subsidized, which discourages efficiency. Reform is slow and contentious.

Main causes

• Drought and climate change
• Population growth
• Agricultural demand
• Pollution
• Poor infrastructure and leaks