Clean water is essential not just for our personal needs like drinking and sanitation, but also for the functioning of ecosystems, agriculture, and various industries. The availability of fresh water is crucial for sustaining life and supporting the global economy. Without it, the world would face a host of serious challenges. Here’s a look at the potential impacts of a global water shortage.
Innovation and Technology
Being faced with such an urgent crisis would mean that scientists and corporations would drive innovation in water purification technologies. There would also be an increase in the level of investment in desalination plants and water recycling systems.
Social Inequality
Marginalized communities, who are already disproportionately affected by poverty, would unfortunately face the worst of the water crisis. Access to clean water would become a privilege for the wealthy, widening the gap between the richest and poorest in society.
Agricultural Collapse
Crop fields would no longer be able to produce the same high yields that we’re used to due to a lack of irrigation, and livestock farmers would struggle to find adequate water sources for their animals. This would lead to food shortages and famine.
Water Rationing and Restrictions
Governments and authorities would implement strict water rationing measures to conserve remaining supplies, affecting water-intensive activities such as agriculture and manufacturing. According to Climate ADAPT, “rationing ensures that critically limited water supplies are distributed in a way that sufficient water is delivered to preserve public health and safety.”
Education and Development Setbacks
Schools having inadequate access to drinking and sanitation water would be forced to close or reduce their teaching hours. This would negatively affect the quality and availability of education for children, impacting literacy and future economic development.
Erosion of Human Rights
Access to clean water is a fundamental human right, but this would be compromised, especially for marginalized communities. This would mean that international humanitarian efforts would need to be put in place to uphold people’s right to water.
Escalation of Water Conflicts
Dwindling water resources would lead to competition between communities and countries, and this could escalate tensions. According to CSIS, “localized conflicts and unrest directly over water within countries are a regular and a common feature in many countries in the Middle East.”
Healthcare Crisis
Hospitals and other healthcare services would struggle to maintain hygiene standards without clean water. This would mean that the sterile environment of medical procedures and surgeries would be compromised, leading to increased mortality rates. It would also result in the spread of hospital-borne infections in healthcare settings.
Technological Dependence
Society would become heavily reliant on technology for water purification and distribution, and if this technology were to face issues, it would exacerbate water scarcity issues. It would also be essential to create innovations in decentralized water systems and off-grid technologies.
Resource Management Challenges
Governments and global organizations would face immense challenges in managing dwindling water resources, and sustainable water management practices would become essential to prevent further loss of water. This would require global collaboration and cooperation to ensure everyone has clean water for their populations.
Economic Instability and Job Losses
Many industries are reliant on water, including agriculture and manufacturing. Without the necessary access, companies would face severe decline. According to Study Smarter, “If there is not enough water to feed crops, then crops will die. As many countries rely on agriculture to earn money, a lack of crops can cause financial difficulty and economic decline.”
Psychological Impact
Not having an abundance of fresh water would lead to increased stress and anxiety in society, with feelings of fear and uncertainty about the future. This could lead to an increase in mental health issues and a deterioration of communities’ ability to support one another.
Global Cooperation and Diplomacy
Water scarcity would require an enhanced approach to international collaboration and cooperation in order to solve and manage the issue. This would lead to the development of global treaties and agreements, as well as the sharing of innovations and knowledge in order to combat challenges faced across the world.
Disease Outbreaks
According to the World Health Organization, “safely managed water and sanitation are prerequisites for stopping the transmission of cholera.” A lack of clean water could also lead to outbreaks of typhoid and dysentery, meaning health systems would be overwhelmed.
Environmental Degradation
As aquatic habitats decline, ecosystems would suffer, and the level of biodiversity needed would be threatened. Mammals, birds, and other animals that are dependent on freshwater sources would also decline, and there would be an imbalance in ecosystems.
Public Health Crisis
A lack of clean water available to communities would lead to poor sanitation and hygiene practices, increasing the risk of disease. Vulnerable individuals such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions would be particularly at risk.
Migration and Displacement
Communities running out of water would be forced to relocate, and there would be mass migration from rural to urban areas. According to Wellcome, currently, “millions of people walk up to 12 km every day to get drinking water.” If water availability were to decrease further, it could force people to leave their homes.