Global demand for water is going up up up

World demand for freshwater will increase 55 percent between 2000 and 2050 from 3500 km3 to 5500 km3. The Increased demand will mainly come from industry and manufacturing with a 400 percent increase. Water demand from electricity-generation will increase 140 percent and domestic freshwater use 130 percent.

But we are running out of water

Water resources are already being used to the limit and we are using more and more of it. So how much water do we use a day? Over 10 billion tons worldwide.

World freshwater use is beyond planet boundaries

The world’s use of freshwater is already beyond what is sustainable. And the situation is steadily deteriorating. By 2050, 40 percent of the world population will live in areas of severe water stress.  

Water is a precious resource

The amount of freshwater on the planet amounts to only 3 percent of all water on the planet…and less than 1 percent of this is ready for human use. So fresh clean water accounts for just 0.003% of all water available globally.

What is the water used for?

The world freshwater use is roughly:

• Agriculture: 70 percent
• Industry: 20 percent
• Domestic/household use: 10 percent

What is it really used for?

Top water consuming agricultural products. Water use for 1 kilogram of the product:

• Chocolate: 24,000 liters
• Coffee beans: 21,000 liters
• Beef: 15,500 lites
• Sheep and goat meat: 8,800 liters
• Pig meat: 6,000 liters
• Cereals: 1,600 liters
• Fruit: 1000 liters
• Vegetables: 300 liters

Consumer products

• Car: 67,500 liters
• Leather Shoes: 13,700 liters
• Smart phone: 12,100 liters
• Cotton bed sheet: 10,700 liters
• Jeans: 8,000 liters
• Cotton t-shirt: 2,500 liters

We are running out of it

1.4 billion people already live in areas that are simply running out of water. And poor people are those suffering the most.

...and the challenge is only getting bigger

The increase in the world population highlights our need to solve the water problem. In the last century, global water use increased 1.7 times faster than world population. Since 2000, this rate has decreased. Nonetheless, compared to today, we will have to support an additional 2.7 billion people with water in 2050 requiring twice the current supply of water.

What about bottled water?

Bonus fact: The world produces a million plastic bottles a minute - many for water. That’s 500 billion in a year!