ABSTRACT
Population growth, changes in land-use patterns (e.g., agricultural intensification, urbanization), and climate change all, incur increasing global pressure on the availability of fresh water, both from surface and groundwater resources, thus influencing its qualitative and quantitative status. The proposed work aims to analyze the current status of water resources, the observed supply and demand trends, and the possible future scenarios at the global level. Furthermore, the main challenges that threaten the sustainable use of water resources are analyzed to provide useful information for decision makers and policy makers. To this end, innovative water management instruments and governance practices that address current water challenges are reviewed.
