Freshwater has always been a limited resource in some parts of the world. Today, however, growing worldwide demand has made this a global problem. What are the causes of the increasing demand? What measures could governments and individuals take to solve this problem?

Freshwater scarcity has moved from a regional hardship to a global concern as population growth, agriculture, industry and climate change put pressure on rivers, lakes and underground reserves. The rising demand is caused mainly by food production, urbanisation and wasteful consumption, and solutions require government regulation, technological investment and more responsible individual use.