The Global Water Crisis: Contributing Factors and Partial Solutions

Abstract

The world is facing an unprecedented water crisis that demands critical thinking and innovative solutions. In this thesis I discuss the major factors contributing to the global water crisis and the ways different countries are attempting to manage the ongoing crisis. In the first section I describe our basic water needs and present patterns of water use in wealthy, middle, and low-income countries. In the second section I describe the growing demand for water by the population at large, as well as the demand for water in agriculture and industry and how their consumption levels effect water availability and quality. In the third section, I present case studies from across the globe that illustrates failed forms of water governance. In this section, I consider various forms of water governance, addressing the challenge of supplying water to a growing population. In the fourth and final section of this thesis, I highlight some of the potable water interventions proposed by first world countries and raise concerns about their effectiveness in regulating the global water crisis.