Lack of water as a cause

A lack of water—commonly referred to as water scarcity or shortage—acts as a root cause for a host of critical challenges across health, society, economy, and the environment. Below are the primary ways in which insufficient water availability drives problems for communities and ecosystems worldwide.

• : Limited clean water leads to increased risk of water-borne illnesses such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. Poor sanitation, which often accompanies water scarcity, further exposes populations to deadly diseases and infections12.

• : Without water for irrigation, food production suffers, leading to famine and malnutrition, especially in vulnerable regions3.

• : Hospitals and communities struggle with basic hygiene, making it hard to provide safe medical care and increasing vulnerability to outbreaks45.

• : Insufficient water disrupts agriculture, leading to crop failures and reduced yields, which increases food prices and exacerbates poverty678.

• : Industries that depend on water for production, such as food processing and manufacturing, face high costs, lowered output, or outright shutdowns, slowing economic growth7.

• : Children, especially girls in developing regions, often miss school due to time spent collecting water or lack of sanitation facilities, undermining education and future prospects4.

• : Rivers, lakes, and wetlands dry up, destroying habitats and causing biodiversity loss. Many animal and plant species face extinction as a result of shrinking freshwater ecosystems179.

• : The natural ability of the environment to filter water, control floods, and regulate the climate diminishes with the loss of healthy water systems9.

• : Water scarcity often forces people to migrate in search of resources, which can lead to internal displacement or cross-border tensions. Competition over water has been linked to increased potential for both local and international conflicts101112.

• : Loss of livelihoods, forced migration, and health challenges related to drought and water scarcity contribute to mental distress and anxiety, especially among farmers and marginalized groups3.

Factor	Description
Climate Change	Alters rainfall patterns, increases drought frequency, reduces snowpacks11013
Poor Water Management	Leaky infrastructure, inefficient irrigation, and inadequate water data
Pollution	Contaminates available freshwater resources, making them unsafe to use610
Population Growth	Raises overall demand and strains finite water supplies114
Conflict & Disaster	Damages water infrastructure and limits access in crisis situations10

A lack of water is not simply an inconvenience; it is a fundamental cause that undermines health, economic development, stability, and the environment. Addressing water scarcity requires sustainable management, technological innovation, and socio-political cooperation to ensure equitable and reliable water access for all164.

1. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/water-scarcity
2. https://water.org/our-impact/water-crisis/health-crisis/
3. https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/observatory/evidence/health-effects/drought-and-water-scarcity
4. https://idrf.ca/vital-role-of-clean-water-in-developing-communities/
5. https://www.unicef.org/wash/water-scarcity
6. https://earth.org/causes-and-effects-of-water-shortage/
7. https://www.edengreen.com/blog-collection/what-is-water-scarcity
8. https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/environmental_protection-protection_environnement/water-eau.aspx?lang=eng
9. https://outreach-international.org/blog/water-scarcity-in-the-world/
10. https://www.concern.net/news/causes-of-water-scarcity-crisis
11. https://www.conservationgateway.org/ConservationPractices/Freshwater/fcbc/Documents/CBC%20Water%20Scarcity%202-pager.pdf
12. https://www.seametrics.com/blog/water-shortage-consequences/
13. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/water
14. https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-scarcity
15. https://www.worldvision.org/clean-water-news-stories/global-water-crisis-facts
16. https://idrf.ca/fr/global-water-crisis-how-it-impacts-different-communities/
17. https://www.forbes.com/sites/cindygordon/2024/02/25/ai-is-accelerating-the-loss-of-our-scarcest-natural-resource-water/
18. https://climatereadybc.gov.bc.ca/pages/drought-water-scarcity
19. https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/world-water-day-reminds-us-value-precious-resource