Sunday, March 22, 2015

The World’s Water Supply Could Dip Sharply in 15 Years

A young girl fetches water from a hand pump in an impoverished settlement in New Delhi, March 21, 2015. (Credit: Altaf Qadri—AP) Click to Enlarge.
A warning ahead of World Water Day

Global water resources may soon meet only 60% of the world’s water demands, the United Nations warned in a dire new report.

The World Water Development Report, issued ahead of World Water Day on Sunday, says demand for water around the world will increase by 55% over the next 15 years.  With current supplies, that means only 60% of the world’s water needs will be met in 2030.

The reason for the shortfall include climate change, which causes irregular rainfall and dwindling underwater reserves.  The results of the shortage could be devastating to agriculture, ecosystems and economies.  With less water, health could also be compromised.

New policies that focus on water conservation, and more optimal treatment of waste water, could alleviate some of the shortfall.

The World’s Water Supply Could Dip Sharply in 15 Years

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