Water Scarcity Becomes a Global Crisis
Over 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. The Colorado River, which supplies 40 million Americans, has reached critically low levels. Cape Town nearly ran out of water in 2018. India groundwater is being depleted faster than it can recharge. Desalination technology is improving but remains energy-intensive. Water stress is projected to affect 3.5 billion people by 2040. Agriculture consumes 70 percent of freshwater globally, making irrigation efficiency critical.