Water shortages are caused by a huge variety of reasons, but some that you need to consider for exams and essay questions include… Climate change leading to shifting rainfall patterns and leaving populations without safe drinking water. Use of water by nations further upstream. Many continental nations share a single river as a water source. Damming and discharging pollution into the rivers upstream will prevent clean water reaching cities and towns further downstream. Population increases. As human populations rise the demand for water for drinking, washing and waste disposal all... Show more

Water shortages are caused by a huge variety of reasons, but some that you need to consider for exams and essay questions include…

• Climate change leading to shifting rainfall patterns and leaving populations without safe drinking water.
• Use of water by nations further upstream. Many continental nations share a single river as a water source. Damming and discharging pollution into the rivers upstream will prevent clean water reaching cities and towns further downstream.
• Population increases. As human populations rise the demand for water for drinking, washing and waste disposal all increase.
• Agriculture is the biggest user of water. With massive inefficiencies in the way water is used in some systems of agriculture, it accounts for the greatest usage for the least gain.

Technologies and strategies are improving the world's access to water, but often the necessary infrastructure and resources are unavailable in LEDCs. Added to that, the rise in extreme weather conditions may make water shortages more common.

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