Summary of UN world water development report (2014 & 2015)

Contents (2014

The challenge today: Extending services to the unserved

The challenge to come: Meeting growing demands
Remedies versus vast withdrawal of water
What rising energy demand means for water

The challenge today: Extending services to the unserved

Freshwater and
energy are crucial for human well-being and sustainable socio-economic development. Major
regional and global crises of climate, poverty, hunger, health and finance that threaten the
livelihood of many, especially the three billion people living on less than US$2.50 per day, are
interconnected through water and energy.
Worldwide, an estimated 768 million people remain without access to an improved source of
water although by some estimates, the number of people whose right to water is not satisfied
could be as high as 3.5 billion and 2.5 billion remain without access to improved sanitation.
More than 1.3 billion people still lack access to electricity, and roughly 2.6 billion use solid fuels
(mainly biomass) for cooking. The fact that these figures are often representative of the same
people is evidenced by a close association between respiratory diseases caused by indoor air
pollution, and diarrhea and related waterborne diseases caused by a lack of safe drinking water
and sanitation.

The challenge to come: Meeting growing demands Demands for freshwater and
energy will continue to increase significantly over the coming decades to meet the needs of
growing populations and economies, changing lifestyles and evolving consumption patterns,
greatly amplifying existing pressures on limited natural resources and on ecosystems.
Global water demand (in terms of water withdrawals) is projected to increase by some 55% by
2050, mainly because of growing demands from manufacturing (400%), thermal electricity
generation (140%) and domestic use (130%). As a result, freshwater availability will be
increasingly strained over this time period, and more than 40% of the global population is
projected to be living in areas of severe water stress through 2050. There is clear evidence that
groundwater supplies are diminishing, with an estimated 20% of the worlds aquifers being
over-exploited, some critically so. Deterioration of wetlands worldwide is reducing the capacity
of ecosystems to purify water.

What rising energy demand means for water Energy comes in different forms and
can be produced in several ways, each having a distinct requirement for and impact on water
resources. Approximately 90% of global power generation is water intensive.
The International Energy Agency estimated global water withdrawals for energy production in
2010 at 583 billion m3 (representing some 15% of the worlds total withdrawals), of which 66
billion m3 was consumed.
Oil and gas extraction yields high volumes of produced water, which comes out of the well
along with the oil and gas. Produced water is usually very difficult and expensive to treat.
Thermal power plants are responsible for roughly 80% of global electricity production, and as a
sector they are a large user of water. Power plant cooling is responsible for 43% of total
freshwater withdrawals in Europe (more than 50% in several countries), nearly 50% in the
United States of America, and more than 10% of the national water cap in China.
Agriculture is currently the largest user of water at the global level, accounting for some 70% of
total withdrawals.

Remedies versus vast withdrawal of water

Many rapidly growing cities in developing countries already face problems related to water and
energy and have limited capacity to respond. Assessments to identify and reduce water and
energy losses and enhance efficiency can result in substantial energy and financial savings.
The future water and energy consumption of a new or an expanding city can be reduced during
the early stages of urban planning through the development of compact settlements and
investment in systems for integrated urban water management. Such systems and practices
include the conservation of water sources, the use of multiple water sources including
rainwater harvesting, storm water management and wastewater reuse and the treatment of
water to the quality needed for its use rather than treating all water to a potable standard.

Contents (2015)
Water resources: Status and availability
The water and poverty relationship

Water resources: Status and availability

The distribution and availability of freshwater resources, through precipitation and runoff, can
be erratic, with different areas of the world receiving different quantities of water over any
given year. Compounded yearly averages show significant variations in per capita water
availability between countries (figure 1.1).

Groundwater plays a substantial role in water supply Worldwide; 2.5 billion people depend
solely on groundwater resources. Groundwater reportedly provides drinking water to at least
50% of the global population and accounts for 43% of all water used for irrigation.
Groundwater supplies are diminishing, with an estimated 20% of the worlds aquifers being
over-exploited (Gleeson et al., 2012), leading to serious consequences such as land subsidence
and saltwater intrusion in coastal areas (USGS, 2013).

The water and poverty relationship

A daily struggle for water is one of the terrible burdens of poverty; many poor urban dwellers
have to pay very high water prices to informal water vendors or do without water. Low incomes
and limited access to water also means choosing between paying for water, food, school fees or
medicines.
Around the world, 748 million people lack access to an improved drinking water source, while
billions more lack drinking water that is really safe. In 2012, 2.5 billion people did not have
access to an improved sanitation facility (WHO and UNICEF, 2014a).

Assessment MDG achievements relating accessibility to safe drinking

water and improved sanitation:
As we reach the end of the MDG period, the world community has reason to celebrate. Thanks
to concerted global, regional, national and local efforts, the MDGs have saved the lives of
millions and improved conditions for many more.
In 2015, 91 per cent of the global population is using an improved drinking water
source, compared to 76 per cent in 1990.
Of the 2.6 billion people who have gained access to improved drinking water since 1990,
1.9 billion gained access to piped drinking water on premises. Over half of the global
population (58 per cent) now enjoys this higher level of service.

 Globally, 147 countries have met the drinking water target, 95 countries have met the
sanitation target and 77 countries have met both.
Worldwide, 2.1 billion people have gained access to improved sanitation.The proportion
of people practicing open defecation has fallen almost by half since1990.