UN Warns Water 'Scarcity Is Becoming Endemic' Due to Overconsumption, Pollution

A new report from United Nations warned about the looming global water shortage. According to the report, the world unconsciously travels a risky path of "vampiric overconsumption and overdevelopment."

UN Warns Against Water Global Shortage

Thousands of delegates attend the first major UN water summit since 1977. The three-day gathering in New York began Wednesday. The report was published by UN Water and Unesco before the event started.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said water is the people's lifeblood. Unfortunately, it is being drained by unsustainable usage, pollution, and unchecked global warming.

According to the report, water scarcity is becoming endemic because of overconsumption and pollution. Global warming also increases seasonal water shortages in areas where water is abundant and strained.

Richard Connor, the report's lead author, said that about 10% of the global population resides in areas with high or critical water stress. He also told BBC that 3.5 billion individuals live under water stress conditions at least one month a year.

The report also added that nearly 50% of the world's population experiences severe water scarcity for at least part of the year. Connor told reporters that the future of the global water supply is likely uncertain.

He added that there would certainly be a global crisis if we fail to address the issue. UNDP Associate Administrator Usha Rao Monari agreed, noting that resources had to be managed more carefully.

According to Monari, there is still enough water on the planet if it is managed more effectively compared to how it was handled in the last few decades.

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The study's author believes that technology and innovation will play a major role in looking at how to manage the water sector and the use of water. He also thinks that we will have to discover new governance models, new finance models, and new methods of using and reusing water than ever before.

Some 6,500 people will attend the summit, which the governments of Tajikistan and the Netherlands are co-hosting. This includes 100 ministers and 12 heads of state and government.

Water Scarcity

About 70% of our planet is water, so water is abundant. However, only 3% is freshwater, which we use to drink, bathe and irrigate the fields. The rest is tucked away in frozen glaciers or unavailable for use, according to World Wildlife Fund.

Thus, the need for more water and the report suggests that water scarcity is something that part of the world is already experiencing. World Vision defines water scarcity as the lack of safe water supplies. The growing population demands more water, but the environment can't keep up.

Rivers and lakes are drying up or becoming polluted. Agriculture consumes more water and wastes much of that through inefficiencies.

Additionally, climate change alters weather patterns causing shortages and droughts in some areas and floods in others.