Show Entire Article
Yesterday was not a typical Sunday. People from around the globe were reminded of one of the most important natural resources that life depends on: water. The vital role that water plays in economic development and future investments along with the possible repercussions due to its scarcity are amplified on World Water Day.
Designated by the United Nations General Assembly, World Water Day was established on March 22, 1993, in an effort to bring awareness about the importance of managing fresh water resources. The 16th Anniversary of WWD highlights how rapid population growth in developing nations, change in climate patterns, industrial usage, among other factors are affecting the supply and demand of this valuable commodity.
According to a report issued by the United Nations this year entitled Water in a Changing World, demand for water is growing by 64 billion cubic meters per year; mostly driven by an approximate 80 million increase in population each year.
The World Water Organization estimates that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will live in regions with absolute water scarcity. This is compared to the current level of 880 million people that do not have access to decent sources of water according to estimates from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Page 1 of 3 | Next PageShow Entire Article
AWK News & Analysis
No recent news available
DATA IS REAL-TIME EXCEPT NOTED WITH *
* DATA DELAYED AT LEAST 15 MINUTES