Water shortage is a real problem. It is mainly associated with the great taboo of environmentalism: the size and growth of the human population.
“While the world’s population tripled in the 20th century, the use of renewable water resources has grown six-fold. Within the next fifty years, the world population will increase by another 40 to 50 %. This population growth – coupled with industrialization and urbanization – will result in an increasing demand for water and will have serious consequences on the environment.”
- world water council
Water Facts
1.1 billion people live without clean drinking water
2.6 billion people lack adequate sanitation (2002, UNICEF/WHO JMP 2004)
1.8 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases.
3 900 children die every day from water bornediseases (WHO 2004)
Daily per capita use of water in residential areas:
- 350 litres in North America and Japan
- 200 litres in Europe
- 10-20 litres in sub-Saharan Africa
Over 260 river basins are shared by two or more countries mostly without adequate legal or institutional arrangements.
Quantity of water needed to produce 1 kg of:
- wheat: 1 000 L
- rice: 1 400 L
- beef: 13 000 L
(D.Zimmer,and D.Renault, 2003)
