Even without accounting for climate change impacts, future population development, especially in the underdeveloped and developing regions, will greatly aggravate water scarcity. The challenge before us is to move the world toward a state of improved water efficiency and to address the growing scarcity of water. And that requires political will, which seems to be as scarce as, you have guessed, water.
Roughly 1 calorie of food requires 1 liter of water. So, most of the daily per capita water requirements arise from covering the energy requirements to sustain the metabolism. Unless you happen to grow most of your food, if your body needs say, 2,400 calories a day, you do the math.
In China, the elephant in the room: (try read the entire article, some eye-opener!)
Agriculture uses about 93 percent of Ningxia’s water resources, or roughly 3.4 billion cubic meters (900 billion gallons). But, by the end of the decade, agricultural water use is projected to drop to 78 percent in order to provide more water to cities and to coal production, coal combustion, and coal-based chemicals. Source
The dwindling Himalayan glaciers:
while the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted wrongly that the Himalayan glaciers would be gone by 2035, photographic and scientific evidence shows that the melting third pole is still devastating the region, and with new data, Circle of Blue says 70% of those glaciers will be gone by next century. Source
And:
For centuries, glaciers have inspired awe and wonder. The idea that human assault might ever triumph over such powerful features of our natural landscape seemed almost unimaginable. But now climate change is disrupting the ecological balance of the Tibetan Plateau and the mighty glaciers of the Himalaya are, in fact, disappearing. Source
Land clearing begins for destructive Amazon dam:
Construction workers have begun to bulldoze land in the Brazilian Amazon to make way for the controversial Belo Monte mega-dam. Source
Choke Point: U.S., excellent reporting from the great folks at Circle of Blue:
A number of environmental, economic, and political impediments lie in the path to large increases in American energy production. Our reporting reveals that unless there are sharp changes in investment and direction, generating sufficient energy, including from clean energy sources, will lead to severe water shortages, and potentially severe damage to the American environment and quality of life. Source
I'm reposting this one, from last year, as people should know what's in their water:
U.S. manufacturers, including major drug-makers, have legally released at least 271 million pounds of pharmaceuticals into waterways that often provide drinking water — contamination the federal government has consistently overlooked, according to an Associated Press investigation. Source
From Food Crisis to Food Sovereignty:
Subsistence farmers have limited access to land and water and they cannot compete in global markets, but have a large proportion of the world's poorest people. This article examines the divide between food and producers and policymakers. Source
UN Report Says World's Food Stocks at Risk as Bee Colonies Dying Out:
Seeds are being coated in systemic insecticides that spread throughout the plant, from the roots to the flowers and into the nectar and pollen. The report says that the highly toxic chemicals in the insecticides, collectively known as neonicotinoids, can cause loss of the sense of direction and memory on which bees rely to find food. Source
Projects stuck, Delhi stares at a water crisis:
The capital is staring at a grim water situation this summer. Source
Colorado state's water supply report has dire warning:
The report concludes that between 500,000 and 700,000 irrigated acres in Colorado could be dried up by 2050. Source
Peru: Adapting to the lack of water:
Climate change is causing glaciers to melt all over the world. Their disappearance is a serious threat to the viability of crops and the livelihood of agricultural communities. Source
Australia Highlights Lack Of Water Governance In Canada:
Climate change (evaporation of fresh surface water), Canada’s major energy and resource sectors, bulk water exports, rapid urban growth, and subsequent ageing infrastructure are all driving the country’s water drain at a time when water demand is at an all time high in Canada. Source
China & Australia team up:
Two of the world’s leading science agencies, CSIRO and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), are joining forces to tackle one of the world’s biggest problems – how to feed a global population that is growing by 75 million people per year. Source
And finally, what is dehydration? Since there are roughly over 1.2 billion people lacking potable water, here's what happens when lack of water occurs:
Water is a critical element of the body, and adequate hydration is a must to allow the body to function. Up to 75% of the body's weight is made up of water. Source
World Wide Water Stress Index, for those interested.