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.
Water scarcity already affects every continent. Water use has been growing globally at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century, and an increasing number of regions are reaching the limit at which water services can be sustainably delivered, especially in arid regions.
CAUSES
Water shortage can also result in a number of ailments , ranging from food poisoning to Cholera . Some of the major causes of water Scarcity are discussed below:--
1. Overuse of Water
2. Pollution of Water
3. Conflict
4. Draught
5. Global Warming
6. GroundWater Pollution
Effects of Water Scarcity Across the Globe !
The problem of water scarcity has gained a lot of importance due to the potential damage it can inflict. As per some reports, 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 Billion people find water scarce for at least one month of the year.
As per 2017 Global Risks Report of the World Economic Forum, in terms of impact on humanity, the water crisis is ranked as the 3rd most important global risk.
Governments will be forced to choose between agricultural, industrial, municipal or environmental interests and some groups would win at the expense of others.
Water scarcity can result in forced migration. It may lead to domestic or regional conflicts, in geopolitically fragile areas.
As per the UN report, over 2 Billion people live in countries experiencing high water stress. As per UNESCO 24 Million and 700 Million people will be displaced in some Arid and Semi-arid regions by 2030.
Inadequate sanitation is also a problem for 2.4 Billion people. They are exposed to diseases, such as Cholera and Typhoid fever, and other water-borne illnesses. 2 million people, mostly children, die each year from diarrheal diseases alone.
1. Lack of Access to Drinking Water
2. Hunger
3. Diseases
4. Sanitation Issues
5. Poverty
6. Migration
7. Destruction of Habitats
8. Loss of Biodiversity
