Physical Water Scarcity: When water consumption exceeds 60% of the usable supply. Imagine being in a desert, the physical amount of water is just not enough! Countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are examples—they have to import a lot of food and invest in desalination plants. Think about being really thirsty but the water cooler in your school is empty! 💧💦

Economic Water Scarcity: A country has enough water physically but lacks storage and transport facilities. It's like having a full water cooler but no cups to drink from. This requires embarking on large and expensive water-development projects, as seen in many sub-Saharan countries.

Think About It: What could be the areas expected to experience physical and economic water scarcity in 2025? And why?

Drought is like a long, dry summer vacation but without the fun. It's an extended period of dry weather leading to extreme dryness. The severity of a drought depends upon how long it lasts and how severe the water shortage is.

• Absolute Drought: At least 15 consecutive days with less than 0.2 mm of rainfall. It's like trying to fill a swimming pool with a single water droplet.

• Partial Drought: At least 29 consecutive days with an average daily rainfall not exceeding 0.2 mm. This is like trying to water your garden with a small water spray.

Effects? Lower crop yields, more animal deaths, increase in illnesses due to dehydration, increased forest fires, and restrictions on water usage.

Water Quantity I: The supply depends on several factors in the water cycle, like rainfall rates, evaporation, water use by plants (transpiration), and river and groundwater flows.

• Fact: Less than 1% of all freshwater is available for people to use. The rest is locked up in ice sheets and glaciers.

• Trouble ahead: If current trends continue, only 4,800 cubic meters will be available per person per year in 2025, down from 6,600 cubic meters.

Water Quality II: Water also needs to be of an adequate quality for consumption. However, in many developing countries, people lack access to safe and affordable water supplies and sanitation.

• Worrying Statistics: About 4 million deaths each year are from water-related diseases. Water quality may be affected by organic waste, fertilizers, pesticides, heavy metals, and acids.

• The Big Divide: Urban areas have better water infrastructure than rural ones. For example, many in major cities in countries like Colombia, India, Mexico, Thailand, Venezuela, and Yemen rely on bottled water for personal use.