Outline

I. Introduction

A. Signs of the Coming Crisis

B. Population and Food Production Trends

C. The Global Freshwater Resource

D. Pollution and Human Health

E. Challenges in Optimizing Water Use

II. The Present Global Water Situation

A. Water Use by Sectors

B. Water‐Scarce and Water‐Stressed Countries

C. Drinking Water, Sanitation, and Waterborne Disease

D. Chemical Contamination in Water

1. Agricultural Nutrients

2. Agricultural Pesticides

3. Industrial Emissions of Chemicals

4. Natural Toxics

E. Water for Ecosystems

1. Stream Flow Modification

2. Wetlands Loss

F. Groundwater Overdraf

III. Population Trends and Water Stresses

A. Water‐Short and Water‐Stressed Countries

B. Urbanization Trends

C. Industrial and Municipal Water Demands

D. Transboundary Issues
1. Jordan River

2. Tigris‐Euphrates Basin

3. Nile River

4. Indus River

5. Ganges River

E. Projected Water Deficit Under Business as Usual Practices

F. Threats to Ecosystem Health

G. The Wild Card of Climate Change

IV. Dimensions of Water Scarcity

A. Water Savings Through Conservation

1. Domestic Water Savings

2. Industrial Water Savings

3. Reducing Storage Losses

B. Expansion and Improvement of Irrigation

1. Potential for Expansion

2. Efficiency Improvements

3. Deficit Irrigation

C. Productivity Improvements in Rainfed Agriculture

D. Economic Methods for Water Supplementation in Developing Countries

E. Desalination

F. Improvements Through Institutional Changes

V. Paths to Sustainability

A. Ending Unsustainable Practices

B. Management Strategies

C. Agriculture and Water Management in the Developing World

D. Societal Changes

VI. Conclusions