Explained: Increasing Concerns Over Freshwater Shortage Across The World

The shortage of freshwater is becoming increasingly common worldwide due to a combination of factors such as climate change, overconsumption, pollution, and poor water management practices.

A recent global study by Circle of Blue and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) examined attitudes towards freshwater shortages by surveying almost 30,000 people from 31 countries.

The study found that people in Argentina, South Korea, Vietnam, Colombia, Germany, and Peru reported the largest increases in concerns about water shortages over the past few years.

The study sheds light on the growing awareness of the global water crisis and the urgent need to address water scarcity.

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Urban areas are more affected

The report highlights several important findings related to freshwater shortages and climate change. Over 30% of people reported being greatly impacted by freshwater shortages.

The study also found that there has been a significant increase in concerns about freshwater shortages, with 61% of people in 17 countries consistently tracked expressing strong concerns in 2022, compared to 49% in 2014.

Additionally, people living in urban areas were found to be more greatly affected by a lack of freshwater than those in rural or suburban areas.

The report also notes that 38% of people surveyed claimed to have been greatly personally affected by climate change, with those individuals viewing drought as the most concerning impact of climate change.

Urgent need to address the issue

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These findings highlight the urgent need to address water scarcity and climate change, as well as the disproportionate impacts on urban areas and those who have already been personally affected.

The report suggests that efforts must be made to conserve water resources, promote sustainable water management practices, and invest in water infrastructure to ensure access to safe and reliable water supplies for all.

Additionally, addressing the impacts of climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is critical to mitigating the effects of drought and other extreme weather events.

Fresh water in India

India is facing a persistent freshwater shortage crisis due to its rapidly growing population and inadequate water management infrastructure. Despite being home to 16% of the world's population, the country has only 4% of the world's freshwater resources.

This shortage is compounded by high levels of water stress experienced by a large portion of the Indian population, as reported by NITI Aayog.

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What is contributing to the issue in India?

In India, water pollution is a major problem caused by the discharge of domestic, industrial, and mining waste into water bodies. This can lead to waterborne illnesses and eutrophication, which can have a significant impact on aquatic ecosystems.

Overexploitation of groundwater is also a major concern, with 256 out of 700 districts in India reporting critical or overexploited groundwater levels, state Central Ground Water Board (2017).

Over-reliance and unsustainable consumption of groundwater resources have led to wells, ponds, and tanks drying up, exacerbating the water crisis.

The per capita water usage in cities has increased due to urbanization and a significant inflow of rural migrants, leading to a transfer of water from rural reservoirs to urban areas to fulfil the demand.

This potential rural-urban conflict may be exacerbated as cities rely heavily on rural areas for raw water supply in the future, considering the downward trend of water levels in urban areas.