The global water supply situation relates to population growth and associated problems, such as the impact of human activity on the water cycle, public health issues, and drinking water shortage. Water supply scarcity is an ecological trend affecting societies worldwide.
Population Growth and Water Supply Problems
Programs for adequate water supply require consideration for the role that population growth plays in the rise and extent of water supply problems. Population growth correlates with water demand and consumption and puts pressure on water supply.
For example, the development of megacities, such as Tokyo, requires that space and water resources match the needs of the urban population, given its expected growth and the limited availability of resources.
Urban, agricultural, and industrial areas typically have the highest demand for water. These areas are also the ones most at risk of water shortage. Megacities’ population growth comes with a rapid increase in consumer demand for water.
Thus, population growth puts stress on water supply and related infrastructure. This condition can lead to shortages in the supply of clean and fresh water that people and businesses need for their daily activities.
Ways Humans Negatively Impact the Water Cycle
Human activity affects the water cycle in multiple ways that lead to problems and challenges in ensuring the sustainability of water resources. Among these impactful ways, the following are notable:
- Increasing consumption
- Diversions and massive changes in bodies of water
- Water pollution
Increasing Consumption. Population growth means increasing amounts of water drawn from freshwater sources to support rising water consumption. This condition can reduce the availability of water for plants and wildlife and impact the water cycle in affected areas.
Diversions and Massive Changes. Dams, hydroelectric power plants, and the rerouting of rivers and other waterways disturb natural water routes and lead to significant changes in the water cycle.
Water Pollution. Water pollution from urban, agricultural, and industrial areas affects the water supply and the water cycle. Human consumption of water for drinking, irrigation, sanitation, and other uses can also worsen the situation caused by pollution.
Water pollution leads to changes in water resources, such as higher levels of solutes and contaminants. These human-induced changes can alter water characteristics, such as evaporation rates, and disrupt the water cycle and the availability of water for plants and wildlife.
Public Health Concerns on Clean Drinking Water
The condition and quality of water supply are major factors in sanitation and disease control and, thus, public health. Around the world, public health concerns related to clean drinking water are as follows:
- Safety from toxic substances
- Sanitation
- Accessibility
Safety. Safety is always a concern when it comes to drinking water. Not all fresh water can be used for drinking. Some freshwater sources contain toxins and other substances that are harmful to humans.
For example, freshwater mixed with effluence from a mining plant may be rendered unsuitable for human consumption. The resulting contaminated water supply may contain toxic substances that require extensive water treatment.
Sanitation. Water supply issues are linked to sanitation. For example, the lack of proper sanitation among human populations can lead to the mixing of waste with water resources. This condition leads to unsafe water for human consumption.
Poor sanitation can render water not suitable for drinking. The lack of proper water treatment equipment and facilities can also complicate this public health concern on ensuring adequate water supply for drinking and household needs.
Accessibility. Accessibility is another public health concern, especially in some developing countries and remote regions. For example, some populations may need to travel long distances to access water suitable for drinking.
The lack of easy access to water makes handwashing and housecleaning difficult. This factor can worsen sanitation issues that also affect the quality of water for drinking. Water supply access problems increase the risk and spread of disease and present public health challenges.
Shortage of Clean Water for the World’s Population
Only about 3 percent of the world’s water is considered fresh water, and less than this amount is currently in aquifers and bodies of water. With population growth and rising water consumption, there is significant concern for the scarcity of clean water for drinking and household use.
Droughts, water rerouting, and seawater seepage can render fresh water unfit for human consumption. This condition puts more stress on the limited freshwater supply, leading to an even higher risk of clean water shortage.
Water shortage is also partly due to the increasing use of water in farm irrigation. To support growing populations and food demand, the agricultural sector uses increasing amounts of fresh water.
The case of some urban centers is worse than other areas in terms of clean water supply. The high population density of an urban area leads to high demand for drinking water and puts a strain on the limited water supply in the area and its surrounding region.
Economic Considerations
The sufficiency of water supply influences the performance of businesses, such as foodservice companies, like McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Starbucks. These firms use water for food and beverage preparation and production and for sanitation.
Also, food manufacturers, such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Unilever, depend on water supply adequacy for their production operations. Additionally, water supply impacts the availability and cost of many products available from retailers, like Walmart, Aldi, Home Depot, Costco, and Amazon and its subsidiary Whole Foods.
These are just some business-oriented considerations that emphasize the economic impact of the availability and adequacy of clean freshwater. Addressing water shortage issues can reduce challenges related to business growth and economic growth.
Looking Forward
Water resources are essential to public health, human settlement, and societal development. However, water supply problems related to safety, sanitation, accessibility, and shortage continue to affect water supply systems in many countries.
The extent of these water supply problems depends on various influences, such as human settlement and urbanization, technology adoption, and political commitment. Better policies and programs are needed to ensure a clean, safe, adequate, and accessible water supply.
References
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- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – Water Scarcity.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Ground Water.
- United Nations – Water – at the center of the climate crisis.
- Wijayanti, Y. R., Rafsanjani, S. I., Anggayasti, W. L., Fakhrona, S., & Sari, I. C. (2026). Water shortage due to urban climate imbalance in water, food, and energy nexus and the role of their respective resource recovery. In Climate Change Impacts on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus (pp. 117-136). Elsevier.