Water stress: what is, causes, consequences and how to avoid it

Water stress or water scarcity occurs when the Drinking water demand is greater than available water for a certain period of time. It can also occur because water quality is so low that it is not suitable for human consumption. According to the United Nations Organization, 1 of 6 six people are affected by this situation, and this figure is expected to increase considerably. By 2025, one thousand nine hundred million will live in regions with absolute water scarcity, while 2/3 of the world population will experience water stress.

Worldwide, the most affected countries are those of Northern Africa and Asiawhere renewable water resources are completely extracted every year, which leads to Water sources exhaustion. Access to drinking water and sanitation is an indispensable human right for health and well -being. Water is not only essential in the domestic sphere, but also fundamental in various sectors of society to produce food, energy, goods and services, and to maintain the functionality of ecosystems. As indicated by the objective of the SDG 6 (Sustainable Development Objective), it must be “guaranteed the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.”

Here are the different causes of water stress:

• Excessive and unusual extraction of fresh water from natural sources for agriculture. Agriculture is one of the largest consumers of fresh water worldwide. The expansion of cultivation areas and intensive use of irrigation without efficient practices or adequate technologies results in excessive water extraction.
• Fresh water extraction for industrial use. The industry also contributes significantly to water stress due to its high demand for water for production, cooling and cleaning processes. Uncreated extraction for industrial use can lead to overexploitation of local water resources, reducing water availability for other essential needs such as domestic consumption. This includes that obtained from the overexstraction of renewable groundwater or the extraction of fossil groundwater.
• The effects of climate change. It is estimated that each 1 ° C of temperature increase caused by global warming will result in a 20% reduction in renewable water resources. In this way, the expected temperature increase in future climate scenarios has important repercussions on the hydrological, global and local cycle. Here you can know the effects of climate change.
• The demographic increase and settlement. As the population increases, economic, industrial activities and the generation of electricity grow, and, consequently, greater volumes of water are required.
• Alteration in hydrological basins. The alteration of hydrological basins due to anthropic activities such as deforestation, the advancement of urbanization, and other actions that modify the hydrological regime, produces a greater risk of flooding in some regions and less infiltration and, therefore, less water.

We advise you to read this other article about the overexploitation of water: causes, consequences and solutions.

• Impact on human health. The lack of a resource as valuable as water can lead populations to consume contaminated water, of poor quality and acquire gastrointestinal diseases, cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A, among others. Likewise, water scarcity produces the decrease in personal hygiene by increasing the risk of contracting and transmitting infectious and parasitic diseases.
• Impact on food security and food shortage. Water shortage can lead to lack of irrigation and therefore to the decrease in crop yield which results in a food shortage. Here you can read about food scarcity: what is, causes and solutions.
• Impact on livestock. The lack of water to hydrate cattle results in a greater mortality of animals and in the lack of production of meat and other foods such as milk.
• International conflicts. Due to water shortage, political and even armed clashes have emerged between different communities, countries and regions.
• Forced human displacements. Water stress forces people to migrate, especially those who live in places where the quantity and quality of water are not enough. This fact leads them to abandon their homes in search of better living conditions.
• Ecosystems and biodiversity degradation. Like people migrate, some animals are forced to move in search of water resources. In turn, because of the decrease in the flow of water, many aquatic species of flora and fauna are affected because some of them depend pure and exclusively on it to be able to reproduce. We recommend you read this other post about environmental degradation: what is, causes, consequences and examples.
• Economic impact. Sectors such as agriculture, industry and tourism can be severely affected by water scarcity, leading to significant economic losses.
• Impact on wastewater treatment. The lack of water can also affect the functioning of wastewater treatment plants, which leads to contamination of different sources and increased public health problems.

To avoid water deficit, it is crucial to implement sustainable and efficient management of water resources and this includes:

• Promote efficient irrigation technologies In agriculture such as drip irrigation, which significantly reduces water waste.
• Improve water supply and distribution infrastructure In urban areas to minimize losses.
• Promote the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems as wetlands and forests that play a vital role in the recharge of aquifers and the regulation of the hydrological cycle.
• Foster the implementation of regulations that control excessive extraction of water.
• Promote sensitization campaigns and public awareness about the responsible use of waterensuring its long -term availability.
• Stimulate cooperation Among governments, communities and private sectors is essential to develop and implement comprehensive strategies that address water stress in an effectively and sustainably.

If you want to learn more, we recommend reading these other articles on why it is important to take care of water and how we can take care of water.

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