This concept of freshwater stress corresponds to phenomena where there is clean water scarcity due to supply mismanagement. This phenomenon demands drastic and sustainable solutions that will improve water management on an international level. The negative impact of climate change and population growth burdens the clean water problem. 

Types of Freshwater Stress

Freshwater scarcity stress can be found in the following two categories: physical and economic scarcity. As physical scarcity, we define clean water shortage that occurs due to uneven correspondence between demand and supplies. Namely, this category describes the occasion, where water demand exceeds the supply potentials. On the other hand, economic scarcity refers to lack of infrastructures, such as water storage and pertinent sanitizing facilities. However, there are occasions where these two types of scarcity seem to overlap.

Factors of Deterioration and Impact Extensions

As is aforementioned, climate change is expected to aggravate the phenomena of water deficiency. This chain of events can lead to temperature rise; frequent appearance of droughts, with prolonged duration in the occasions of them occurring; scarce rainfall and in the occasion of this weather condition happening, it will occur with severe intensity.

However, the extension of this impact will not be confined to the deterioration of weather phenomena. Agriculture will be a sector facing serious challenges, as water scarcity can lead to food access limitations. In addition, clean water deprivation can have a serious negative impact on economies and public health.

iED acknowledges freshwater stress as a severe environmental issue, whose continuity is expected to have detrimental consequences on many levels globally. Our institute pursues its goal for contribution to sustainable environmental solutions, through its participation in European projects that share the same ideas. If you would like to input our effort, you can get in touch with our team.