Water Scarcity: Some FAQs

A basic definition of water scarcity is when the available supply of water is insufficient to meet demands.

The causes of water scarcity include overuse of water, pollution of water, conflict—which may hamper people’s access to available water or lead to destruction of infrastructure and disrupt water supply, distance, drought and natural disasters.1

According to ScienceDaily, “It already affects every continent and around 2.8 billion people around the world at least one month out of every year.”2 But an MIT study estimates that by 2050, half of the world’s population “may be living under at least moderately stressed water-resource conditions.”3

“Prolonged water stress can have devastating effects on public health and economic development,” says the Council on Foreign Relations.4 Such conditions deteriorate the quantity and quality of freshwater resources.5 Water scarcity can lead to disease and make agriculture more difficult, which threatens a community’s access to food.6

When people don’t have sufficient water for even their basic needs, such as drinking and cooking, proper handwashing and other sanitation matters are often not priority. Improper sanitation often contaminates the very water people drink, contributing to disease and the spreading of various illnesses.

Insufficient water will yield insufficient crops. The CDC says, “Drought can limit the growing season and create conditions that encourage insect and disease infestation in certain crops.”7 This scarcity affects one’s food supply and can contribute to hunger and malnutrition.8 For those dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods, such water shortages also affect income and their ability to provide for their families.

Sources of water include surface waters, which include rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and ground water contained in aquifers. According to Council on Foreign Relations, “The vast majority—roughly 70 percent—of the world’s freshwater is used for agriculture, while the rest is divided between industrial (19%) and domestic uses (11%), including for drinking.”9

Technically, yes. However, ocean water must first be desalinized to be usable. While this is possible, the process is expensive and energy intensive, which could contribute to negative emissions. Additionally, once fresh water has been separated, the brine is returned to the ocean, where it depletes oxygen and suffocates organisms.10

The Middle East and North Africa, which Council on Foreign Relations says, “receives less rainfall than other regions, and its countries tend to have fast-growing, densely populated urban centers that require more water.”11

Individuals can do their part to conserve water and wisely steward the earth’s limited resources, thus alleviating the demands and decreasing wasteful use. You can also donate to charities that help provide water for communities suffering from water scarcity. GFA World, for example, installs Jesus Wells that access water deep below the surface to provide water for impoverished communities in need.