Why the World Faces a Water Scarcity Crisis and Country Responses
The global water scarcity crisis threatens billions, with half the world’s population projected to live in water-stressed areas by 2025 and 2.2 billion lacking safely managed drinking water. The population increase, climatic changes, pollution and overuse may lead to a demand that is 40 times higher than supply by 2030, adding 700 million displaced, and exposing 70 trillion in GDP to risks by 2050. Extreme stress (>80% usage) has been experienced in such countries as Bahrain, Kuwait and India, which increases health crises as 800 children die each day due to unsafe water. This paper explores reasons and national innovative reactions.
Causes of the Water Crisis
The explosion of population to 8.5 billion in 2030 places pressure on already limited resources and 70 percent of the fresh water is used in agriculture. Climate change increases droughts and floods, sources are polluted and bad infrastructure restricts access to rural areas. Excessive utilization of groundwater exhausts aquifers, so to speak, striking the arid regions the most.
Most Affected Countries
Countries such as Bahrain, Qatar and Yemen are already leading in scarcity lists with Middle East/ North Africa already standing at 100% extreme stress by 2050. The per capita supply in India was less than 1,000 m³ with Pakistan and Ethiopia having to be dependent on unsafe ponds. Sub-Saharan Africa experiences 163% demand explosion by 2050.
Country Responses and Innovations
- Israel: Leads with 90% wastewater reuse and desalination covering 70% of needs, plus drip irrigation saving 60% water in agriculture.
- New-water: NEWater treats wastewater to serve 40 percent; desalination and reservoirs are resilient.
- Australia: Murray-Darling Basin Plan limits utilisation, invests in efficiency and recovers post-2000s drought ecosystems.
- Jordan: Intense rationing and harvesting rainwater under the pressure of refugees.
Global and Future Strategies
UN World Water Development Report 2025 promotes sharing management, technology, such as AI surveillance, and policy bias. Infrastructure, conservation and adaptation investments are essential to prevent a disaster.
