GLOBAL DRINKING WATER CRISIS: THE STATE OF WATER RESOURCES, SCARCITY, AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

Water: a vital life conduit, is facing a global crisis. Approximately 26% of the global population, or 2 billion people, lack access to safe drinking water, and 3.6 billion, around 46%, do not have access to safely managed sanitation services. These alarming statistics reveal an immense asymmetry in access and quality to this indispensable resource. The rippling impacts of climate change, urbanization, pollution, and demographic surges enhance this water scarcity. Amplifying the crisis are extreme weather phenomena and obsolete infrastructure endangering water availability and quality. In 2025, water scarcity impacts 1.8 billion people, with two-thirds of the global population living under water stress. Nearly half of the world's population faces water scarcity for at least part of the year, and the demand for freshwater continues to rise In contrast, Canada boasts considerable freshwater resources, placing it third worldwide in renewable freshwater supply, and second only to ...