This story features in Unearthed: Water Security
2.7 billion
people are affected by water scarcity at least one month each year
$114 billion
the degree of investment required per year to hit the world’s sustainable development goals on water supply, sanitation and hygiene. Three times what’s actually being spent.
By 2025
half the world’s people will live in countries with high water stress
3/4 of all Americans
live within 16km (10 miles) of polluted water
20% increase in salinisation
of the world’s irrigated land area due to inefficient use of water for crop
40%
The gap expected between water demand and water availability by 2030
1/2 of the world’s hospital beds
are estimated to be occupied, at any one time, by patients with waterborne illnesses
30% of the Earth’s freshwater
is in the ground