Group items tagged

It's estimated that we use 9tn cubic metres of water every year. As the global population grows, it is becoming an increasingly precious resource, with millions forced to walk for more than a mile to collect their daily supply. We investigate the innovative technologies that will help tackle our water crisis in future.

"Five hundred scientists meeting in Bonn last month warned that 9 billion people would face the consequences of severe water shortages within a generation or two, but did not point the finger at industries devastating fresh water supplies. Meanwhile, a battle against a metal mining industry that has ravaged freshwater supplies in El Salvador shows just how difficult it is for a developing country to build economic alternatives for a water-secure future."

"As population rises, overpumping means some nations have reached peak water, which threatens food supply, says Lester Brown"

Desalination plants are crucial installations in the Arabian Gulf, providing fresh water for millions in the region to use in their everyday lives. Vast quantities of seawater are sucked into the plants, which are energy intensive and environmentally destructive.