ABSTRACT

A global water crisis is apparent. Put simply, dwindling supplies are not enough to meet the explosive demand in many regions. Population growth, climate change, inefficient use of water, rapid industrialization in developing countries, and urbanization are among the broad global trends all influencing the quantity and quality of water supplies. It is not just scarcity of supplies, though; unequal access to water supplies is also part of the problem. Governments will have to find ways of delivering more water to growing populations and arbitrate allocation among different users. For business, this means preparing for the risk of having less water for operations at greater cost. As well as challenges, there may be opportunities that emerge from this crisis and many scenarios for how it may evolve; however, the only certainty is that business and investors will have to adjust to this new reality.