In the coming years, water scarcity may become one of the biggest problems facing the world. Predictions of worldwide freshwater scarcity due to unsustainable use, pollution, population growth and runaway climate change are becoming increasingly serious.
But could the Earth run out of water completely one day? At least it looks like this won’t happen. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that fresh water cannot always be found where and when people need it.
There is no risk of depletion of salty sea water, which covers 70 percent of the world’s surface. The real problem concerns the fresh water we drink, wash with and use for agriculture. This usable stock of fresh water accounts for only 3 percent of the world’s water, and much of it is trapped in ice or frozen glaciers.
It can be clearly seen that the frequency and intensity of drought, which increases with climate change, plays an important role in the water scarcity crisis in the world. At the same time, intensive agriculture also absorbs incredible amounts of water. Agriculture accounts for almost 70 percent of the withdrawn water. As the world population is predicted to increase in the next few decades, the demand for food and therefore water will also increase.
For many countries, the crisis is already at the door. According to the United Nations’ estimate for 2023, 2 billion people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water. This is equivalent to a quarter of the planet’s population.
In 2018, Cape Town offered a striking example of what the future may hold for many cities. After years of unsustainable water use, mismanagement and climate change, a South African city has been told it could run out of water within months. Residents have been told to reduce water consumption, take short on-off showers, avoid washing their cars and flush toilets as little as possible, amid warnings that taps could literally run dry.
Fortunately, “Day Zero” — the date when the city was predicted to literally run out of water — was narrowly avoided, but Cape Town’s plight may be a sign of things to come for other parts of the world.
According to recent research, many major cities, including London, Tokyo, Miami and Moscow, face potential water shortages. As always, it will be poorer communities and less affluent parts of the world who will bear the brunt of the problem.
As the world becomes more desperate for water, we will inevitably see some profound social and geopolitical changes in human life. Climate change and water scarcity will increase the risk of water conflicts, where states and groups fight for access to water, researchers say. Similarly, it is estimated that 700 million people could be displaced by intense water scarcity by the end of this decade, leading to major shifts in global migration.
Although it is unlikely to reach a point where all the taps in the world will run dry, it can be predicted that the world’s water problems will become even more complex in the coming years.
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