Is the World Running Out of Fresh Water?

A new report from the United Nations (UN) warns that the world is running out of fresh water. The UN says we’ve entered a time called “water bankruptcy,” which means many places are under extreme water stress.

Water stress happens when a community is using almost all the water it has—so there’s very little left to share. This often happens because water isn’t managed well, and climate change makes things worse by bringing longer droughts and less predictable rainfall.

Many Big Cities Are Running Out of Fresh Water

New research shows that about half of the world’s 100 biggest cities are running out of fresh water. That means places where people live are using up almost all the water available, and there might not be enough left for everyone’s needs. People use too much water for farming, cities, and industry. Agriculture alone uses about 70% of the world’s freshwater. Where I live in California, it’s even more than that.

Climate change makes the problem worse. Hotter temperatures and changing rainfall patterns lead to longer droughts and less predictable rain. In fact, 2011- 2014 were the driest years in California’s recorded history. We’ve been lucky recently—unpredictable atmospheric rivers have helped refill some water supplies—but that short-term relief doesn’t fix the bigger problem.

Vanishing glaciers, pollution, and destroying wetlands also reduce clean water supplies. So why is our water getting polluted?

🌾 Farm runoff
When it rains, fertilizers and pesticides on farms can wash into rivers and lakes. This is one of the biggest causes of dirty water.

🏭 Industrial and city waste
Factories, mines, and cities create wastewater. In many parts of the world, more than 80% of this dirty water is released into nature without being cleaned first.

🪨 Polluted groundwater
Some chemicals, like nitrates from farms, seep into underground water supplies called aquifers. In the U.S., nearly 90 million people depend on this groundwater, so pollution can affect millions of families.

🦠 Health risks
Dirty water can carry germs, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals. These can cause diseases like cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, especially in third world countries where clean water is scarce.

What Running Out of Fresh Water Means for People

Right now, about 2.2 billion people still don’t have safe drinking water, and 3.5 billion don’t have safe toilets or sanitation. On top of that, around 4 billion people face serious water shortages for at least one month every year.

Nearly three out of every four people on Earth live in countries where water is unsafe or very hard to get. Because of this, the world is not on track to meet the global goal of clean water and sanitation for everyone by 2030.

In places where people depend on these natural water sources, running out of water can make entire areas impossible to live in.

When water runs out, people are often forced to move. This kind of displacement can tear apart families and communities. People may lose their homes, their traditions, and ways of life that have lasted for generations, which can be emotionally and socially damaging.

Water shortages can also lead to conflict. When large numbers of people move into new areas, they must share limited water, food, and land with those already living there. This competition can create tension and sometimes violence, especially in regions already struggling with the effects of climate change.

These numbers show that water problems aren’t just happening in a few places anymore. They are widespread and affect communities all over the world.

Real-World Examples of Running Out of Fresh Water

Over the past few decades, Lake Chad has shrunk dramatically because of less rainfall, hotter temperatures, and too much water being taken out for farming. Millions of people who depended on the lake for drinking water, fishing, and farming suddenly had far less water to survive on.

As water disappeared, many families were forced to leave their homes to look for work and water elsewhere. This movement of people put pressure on nearby towns and villages, where water and food were already limited. The result has been growing tension, poverty, and conflict in a region already struggling with climate change.

In parts of California, long droughts and heavy groundwater pumping have caused wells to run dry—especially in farming areas like the Central Valley. Information from the Public Policy Institute of California shows that water shortages could force up to 900,000 acres of California farmland out of production. That means billions in lost crops, higher food prices, and fewer locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Agriculture is a $50 billion industry in California, supporting over 400,000 jobs and growing more than half of the nation’s fruits, nuts, and vegetables. But without enough water, this backbone of our food system is at risk.

What Can We Do?

Even though the global water crisis is serious, there are solutions that can help prevent us from running out of fresh water. Communities can protect rivers and groundwater, clean polluted water, and use water more wisely. Fixing old, leaky pipes and outdated water systems is one of the biggest and fastest ways to save water, especially in cities where huge amounts are lost before reaching homes. New technologies can help clean and reuse water, while smart farming can reduce waste. People can help too—by conserving water (I’m the queen of the 3-minute shower!), supporting investments in water infrastructure, and speaking up for policies that protect clean water for everyone. What we do now will shape whether future generations have enough safe water to drink.

Interesting in learning more on how our actions affect the Earth? Check this out: Human Impacts