The Looming Water Crisis
The world is facing an invisible crisis that threatens to undermine progress on a range of critical development goals – from public health and food security to economic growth and environmental sustainability. This crisis is the growing challenge of water scarcity and poor water quality.
While much attention has focused on the quantities of water – too much in the case of floods, too little in the case of droughts – the hidden dangers lurking beneath the water’s surface have attracted far less consideration. Poor water quality is stalling economic progress, stymying human potential, and reducing food production across the globe.
According to the latest UNESCO World Water Development Report, over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, and 3.6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation. Between two and three billion people experience water shortages for at least one month per year, posing severe risks to livelihoods and food security. The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7–2.4 billion people by 2050.
The growing incidence of extreme and prolonged droughts is also stressing ecosystems, with dire consequences for both plant and animal species. This invisible water crisis poses a grave threat to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the future of our planet.
The Impacts of Poor Water Quality
Poor water quality has wide-ranging and devastating impacts across multiple sectors:
Public Health
Contaminated water is a leading cause of waterborne diseases, from cholera and dysentery to typhoid and polio. Each year, an estimated 1.6 million people die from diarrheal diseases linked to unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene. Children under the age of 5 are particularly vulnerable, accounting for 829,000 of these preventable deaths annually.
Food Security
Polluted irrigation water reduces crop yields and contaminates food supplies. Excessive nutrient runoff can also trigger harmful algal blooms that disrupt aquatic ecosystems and damage fisheries. As a result, poor water quality is a major threat to global food security, with cascading effects on livelihoods and human nutrition.
Economic Growth
The World Bank estimates that worsening water quality is reducing economic growth by as much as one-third in some countries. Pollution and water-borne illnesses impose significant costs on healthcare systems and undermine worker productivity. Degraded water resources also constrain industrial and agricultural output, hampering overall economic performance.
Environmental Sustainability
Polluted water harms aquatic life and degrades critical ecosystems. The eutrophication of lakes and coastal zones, driven by nutrient pollution, is devastating habitats and biodiversity. Microplastics and other emerging contaminants are also accumulating in the food chain with largely unknown long-term consequences.
Tackling the Invisible Crisis
Addressing the global water quality crisis will require a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach that integrates solutions across sectors. Key elements of this strategy include:
Strengthening Water Quality Monitoring and Data
Improving our understanding of water quality challenges is a critical first step. Investing in water quality monitoring networks, data management systems, and predictive modeling can provide the insights needed to target interventions effectively.
Promoting Pollution Prevention and Resource Recovery
Transitioning to a more circular economy, where waste is minimized and resources are recovered, can dramatically reduce water pollution. This includes promoting cleaner industrial processes, sustainable agricultural practices, and innovative sanitation technologies.
Increasing Access to Safely Managed Water and Sanitation
Universal access to safely managed water and sanitation services is essential for safeguarding public health and the environment. Targeted infrastructure investments, improved service delivery, and strengthened regulatory frameworks can help close these critical access gaps.
Fostering Inclusive Community Engagement
Engaging local communities, especially marginalized groups, in the design and management of water and sanitation systems is key to ensuring the sustainability and equity of these services. Participatory approaches can enhance ownership, accountability, and responsiveness to user needs.
Leveraging Innovative Financing Mechanisms
Blended finance models that combine public, private, and philanthropic resources can mobilize the substantial investments required to address water quality challenges. Mechanisms like water funds, environmental impact bonds, and green banks can help catalyze sustainable water solutions.
Strengthening Transboundary Cooperation
Many of the world’s water resources, such as rivers and aquifers, cross political boundaries. Enhancing cooperation between nations, states, and communities in the management of these shared resources can yield benefits for water security, biodiversity conservation, and regional stability.
Spotlight on Successful Partnerships
Across the globe, innovative partnerships are demonstrating the power of collaborative action to tackle the invisible water crisis. Consider the following examples:
Mexico’s Monterrey Water Fund
Launched in 2013, this public-private partnership brings together downstream water users, such as the city of Monterrey, with upstream landowners to collectively invest in habitat restoration and sustainable agricultural practices. The fund has successfully maintained water quality, reduced flooding, and improved groundwater recharge – all while supporting local livelihoods.
Tana-Nairobi Water Fund, Kenya
In the Tana River basin, which supplies 95% of Nairobi’s freshwater and 50% of Kenya’s electricity, a similar water fund model has been implemented. Downstream beneficiaries, including the city of Nairobi and hydropower operators, provide financial incentives to upstream farmers to adopt soil and water conservation measures. This has improved water quality and quantity, boosting the resilience of both urban and rural communities.
Community-Managed Water Systems in Somalia
In displacement camps in the Gedo region of Somalia, residents have established water committees to operate and maintain the waterpoints that supply tens of thousands of people. These committees partner with local water authorities to ensure equitable access and sustainable management of scarce water resources, fostering a sense of community ownership and accountability.
These examples illustrate the power of inclusive, collaborative approaches to addressing water quality and scarcity challenges. By bringing together diverse stakeholders – from governments and businesses to civil society and local communities – such partnerships can deliver sustainable, context-specific solutions that meet the unique needs of each region.
A Call to Action
The global water crisis is a complex, multifaceted challenge that demands urgent attention and concerted action. As the Joint Action for Water network, we believe that collective, cross-sectoral collaboration is the key to unlocking the solutions required to safeguard this precious resource for present and future generations.
We must act now to prevent the invisible water crisis from spiraling out of control. This will require:
- Strengthening water quality monitoring and data systems to inform evidence-based decision-making
- Promoting innovative approaches to pollution prevention and resource recovery
- Expanding access to safely managed water and sanitation services, especially for marginalized communities
- Fostering inclusive community engagement in the design and management of water systems
- Leveraging blended finance models to catalyze sustainable water infrastructure investments
- Enhancing transboundary cooperation in the shared management of rivers, lakes, and aquifers
The path forward is challenging, but it is not insurmountable. By working together across sectors and borders, we can tackle the invisible water crisis and build a more water-secure future for all. The time to act is now.
