Water Scarcity Facts 2019
Yet our freshwater resources are dwindling at an alarming rate.
Water scarcity facts 2019. It is the lifeblood of ecosystems including forests lakes and wetlands on which our present and future food and nutritional security depends. According to the ceo water mandate water scarcity can be defined as the shortage in the physical volume of water in a given region whereas water stress can is defined as the ability or lack thereof to access and meet the necessary human demand for water. Growing water scarcity is now one of the leading challenges for sustainable development. Water scarcity can mean scarcity in availability due to physical shortage or scarcity in access due to the failure of institutions to ensure a regular supply or due to a lack of adequate infrastructure.
For example an arid region such as sudan which gets little to no rainfall and has no aquifers or surface water would be experiencing water scarcity due to the sheer lack of volume. But the truth is less than 1 percent of the earth s water is unpolluted potable and fit for consumption so while our continents may be surrounded with water sustainable practices and water conservation have never been more important to combat the very real threat of water scarcity. This challenge will. Is the american dream over.
China with 311 million people living under absolute water scarcity is the country with most people living in water scarce areas. This number represents around 36 of the country s current population. Water scarcity already affects every continent. While many suffer due to water scarcity women disproportionately carry the burden.
Marcus lu visual capitalist. And nations around the world execute large scale programs addressing water scarcity stemming from pollution drought and urbanization. In fact studies warn that two thirds of the global population could be living in water stressed countries by 2025 just a few short years away. Research women and girls make up the majority of people responsible for obtaining water in areas where clean water isn t accessible.
Approximately 70 percent of the earth s surface is covered in water and with a number like that it s easy to misunderstand the reality of water scarcity. When we think about water scarcity many americans may immediately call to mind countries in africa the middle east or asia. In 2019 water scarcity currently affects 2 3 billion people. How conflicts over resources are set to rise amid climate change.
Will sarni founder and ceo water foundry. Water statistics 2017 2018 663 000 000 without clean drinking water in 2018 march 22 is world water day 2 4 billion people do not have access to water sanitation 315 000 children under 5 years old die every year from diarrhea 900 children deaths per da 1 child per every 2 minutes. Matt damon owns a water charity according. The reality of water scarcity.
Here s what the data says. However an area which has a limited supply of. This is around 31 of the world population today. Water stress levels of urban areas with population bigger than 3 million more than a third of major urban areas with more than 3 million people are under high or extremely high water stress.
But europe and north america are also facing unprecedented water shortage issues and the united states stands out of the crowd. Water is essential for agricultural production and food security. Over the next decade this number is expected to climb to over 2 7 billion.