Water

Mapping, measuring, and mitigating global water challenges.

40% of India’s Thermal Power Plants Are in Water-Scarce Areas, Threatening Shutdowns

Fourteen of India’s 20 largest thermal utilities experienced at least one shutdown due to water shortages between 2013-2016, at a cost of $1.4 billion. It's a taste of what's to come in a warmer, more crowded world.

The world runs on water. Clean, reliable water supplies are vital for industry, agriculture, and energy production. Every community and ecosystem on Earth depends on water for sanitation, hygiene, and daily survival.

Yet the world’s water systems face formidable threats. More than a billion people currently live in water-scarce regions, and as many as 3.5 billion could experience water scarcity by 2025. Increasing pollution degrades freshwater and coastal aquatic ecosystems. And climate change is poised to shift precipitation patterns and speed glacial melt, altering water supplies and intensifying floods and drought.

WRI works with businesses, governments, and civil society to ensure a water-secure future. We seek to address both water quantity and quality challenges.

Our Aqueduct project uses the most up-to-date data to produce global water risk maps, allowing stakeholders to assess current and future challenges. We conduct economic and other analyses to identify the most cost-effective strategies to reduce water pollution. And we identify solutions—such as restoring ecosystem services—to alleviate stresses on the world’s water supplies.

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April 11, 2018 Blog post

Water Stress Threatens Nearly Half the World’s Thermal Power Plant Capacity

Many people point to renewable energy as the greatest threat facing fossil fuel power plants. New WRI research finds that the real threat may be water scarcity.
April 11, 2018 Blog post

It's Not Just Cape Town: 4 Shrinking Reservoirs to Watch

Cape Town, South Africa has been in the news for its impending "Day Zero," when the city will shut off taps and start rationing water, but its reservoirs aren't the only ones shrinking. Satellite images reveal dwindling water supplies in Morocco, India, Iraq and Spain.
March 22, 2018 News

RELEASE: New Initiative Calls for Urgent Action on Water and Security

Today on World Water Day, the Water, Peace and Security Initiative (WPSI), was launched to provide expert guidance on the link between water and security, identify potential “hotspot areas” to prevent the next water-driven security crisis, and provide support to impacted countries.
March 20, 2018 Blog post

3 Ways Forests Can Solve the World's Water Crises

Sometimes the best answer to daunting problems is the simplest one. Restoring and protecting forests today is one measure that can help prevent the water crises of tomorrow.
March 19, 2018 Blog post

Forests Will Protect Brazil, but Only If Brazil Protects Them

Brazil's forests are its historic first line of defense against water stress and water-related natural disasters, but now these forests are under pressure. Will Brazil increase investment in its natural infrastructure to defend against water crises?
March 14, 2018 Blog post

5 Things Companies Can Do to Grow in a Water-Stressed World

Water risk poses a major risk to businesses. While there are a variety of publicly-available frameworks for guiding corporate water action, five key trends have emerged, from data disclosure to changing company culture.