The world is staring down the barrel of a water crisis. It might come as a surprise to some of us who live in developed countries and have grown accustomed to having clean water come from every single tap, showerhead, and water fountain. But the reality is that, for most people in the world, clean water is more difficult to come by. Nowadays, water scarcity is seriously affecting over two-thirds of the world population.
So why, when we live on a planet where 75% of the surface is water, are so many people having a hard time accessing it? Well, first of all, the ocean is made up of undrinkable saltwater, and much of the freshwater that the Earth has is locked up in ice or underground. In addition, when we compare freshwater usage from now to over 100 years ago at the start of the 20th century, we can see that it has increased sixfold. That’s because nowadays it is heavily used in industrial settings and agriculture, let alone in homes, hospitals, offices, and schools.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into the main reasons behind this water crisis.
Agriculture – Crops and Livestock Are Drinking Most of Our Water
Just over 70% of the world’s freshwater is used in agriculture, making sure there’s enough food to go around. More specifically, freshwater is needed for crop irrigation and for feeding livestock. Some crops are also thirstier than others; water-intensive crops like rice and cotton (which are also common) account for a huge proportion of freshwater use on farms. In addition, it is also worth noting that, in developing countries in Africa and parts of South Asia, agriculture accounts for around 95% of local water usage.
Industry – Water is Essential for Making Almost Everything
As the world progressed through the 20th century, industries grew exponentially as global conflicts ended and economies became globalised. And as they grew, they became thirstier. As things stand in 2026, roughly 20% of our freshwater is used by industries that are completely dependent on it to manufacture products, from food and drink to semiconductors used in consumer electronics. But to manufacture these products, factories don’t just use tap water. They actually use ultrapure water, which is filtered dozens of times to be as pure as possible, and is used to clean these tiny chips and remove any impurities, which ensures that the manufacturing process is consistent.
Households – More Water in More Houses for More People
Finally, households make up just over 10% of the world’s freshwater usage. This makes sense when you consider just how many people inhabit our small blue planet nowadays. A hundred years ago, there were just 2 billion people, but now that figure has passed 8 billion – over 4x more people who all need water to cook, clean, eat, and drink.
Add to that the fact that a lot of us are using freshwater for technology that didn’t exist a hundred years ago, like dishwashers and washing machines. If you’re looking to reduce the amount of water you use in your daily life, then smaller things like turning off the tap while you brush your teeth may help a little, but you’ll probably see a much bigger difference when you do fewer larger washing loads and have a sub-five-minute shower instead of a bath.
What is Contributing to the World Water Crisis?
So, now that we’ve determined where water is going in a more quotidian sense, let’s discuss some of the more recent, more concerning factors that are contributing to freshwater scarcity.
Climate change is obviously playing a major role, as it is altering rainfall patterns all over the world and increasing both the number of and severity of droughts. Rising temperatures are also driving up evaporation rates, which is shrinking rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other freshwater sources. The region that is, perhaps, the most strongly affected by climate-induced water scarcity is the Horn of Africa, which in recent years has experienced prolonged droughts. As a result, millions of people have been susceptible to famine, since crops haven’t grown at expected rates, as well as being unable to access drinkable water.
Pollution has also been making water even more scarce, this time by decreasing the amount of clean water available. Industrial and agricultural waste both play an undisputed role as they contaminate freshwater sources like rivers and lakes, making them unsafe for human consumption and for the natural ecosystem. One of the most notorious cases of this in recent years was seen in Flint, Michigan, where the local government switched the water supply to the corrosive Flint River. This led to a years-long public health crisis – and this was in the richest country in the world, so it can really happen anywhere.
The last major contributing factor to water scarcity is poor management. Inefficient water management leads to poor infrastructure, which in turn leads to water losses through leaks and a lack of recycling and reuse. The most striking example that comes to mind is the shrinking of the Aral Sea, where decades of irrigation diverted water away from the rivers that were feeding the lake. As a result, local communities were devastated as they had previously been reliant on fishing and farming.
So How Can We Change This?
If we want to seriously address these problems, then governments, industry leaders, and communities will need to all work together, which is easier said than done. Governments will need to do a lot of heavy lifting; they need to invest in modern water infrastructure, sanction those that contribute to pollution, and develop long-term strategies around sustainable practices, as well as working with other countries on the international stage.
Companies will need to be more responsible with their water use by investing in more efficient technologies and practices, as well as resisting the urge to pollute the world around them in the name of cutting costs.
Communities, meanwhile, will need to organize and self-advocate with regard to the water crises they face to get the attention of press and politicians who can make a difference. They can also work with charities and organize groups to have their own impact and make a difference in their local areas.
In terms of practical solutions, we can also embrace a range of proven technological advancements, like drip irrigation and wastewater recycling, which, despite being well-established for years, haven’t yet been truly embraced by most farms and industries.
Drip irrigation works by delivering water directly to plant roots via small pipes instead of spraying (and therefore, wasting) a lot of water. Overall, this method reduces the total amount of water used by 30-70% compared to traditional irrigation methods, while also increasing overall crop yields as plants receive more water, more consistently.
Wastewater recycling involves recycling the water that’s used in homes and in industries, so that it can be reused safely used again in a variety of different ways, like in irrigation and industrial manufacturing processes. What’s more, wastewater recycling reduces pollution because the wastewater is reused elsewhere instead of being released into the environment.
Closing Thoughts
Altogether, agriculture, industry, and human households make up over 90% of the world’s freshwater usage, while climate change, pollution, and inefficient water management have all exacerbated the ongoing world water crisis.
When you’re just a regular person and trying your best to keep your water use down, it’s easy to feel like this is out of control – and it largely is. But if you really want to help change the world, do so with your vote and with your voice, by supporting politicians who pledge to usher in progressive environmental policy changes, while minimizing your own waste and backing businesses that invest in sustainable solutions. The world isn’t too far gone just yet; there’s still time to make a difference.
(Damien Woods is a guest contributor)
