Water Supply and Scarcity

According to the United Nations, water scarcity is defined as the point at which the aggregate impact of all users impinges on the supply or quality of water. Water scarcity is a relative concept and can occur at any level of supply or demand. Scarcity may be socially-constructed or the consequence of altered supply patterns stemming from climate change. Resources available in this sub-theme include U.S. drought monitoring data, workshops for rural water supply systems, among other resources that support water supply and scarcity.

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Water Supply and Scarcity Resources

Regional Water Management Cooperation

Published: 
March 15, 2014
The National Institutes for Water Resources
This is the Water Report Newsletter from March 2014. It is comprised of several articles including: -" Albuquerque's Water Resources Management" -"Regional Water Management Cooperation".Read more
Regional focus: 
United StatesNorth America

Grey Water Reuse for Agricultural Purposes in the Jordan Valley

Published: 
August 6, 2012
The National Institutes for Water Resources
Installation of decentralized grey water treatment systems in small rural communities contributes to a more sustainable water supply. In order to gauge community attitudes about collection and use of grey water, a door-to-door survey in the farming community of Deir Alla, Jordan was conducted by...Read more
Regional focus: 
JordanMiddle East and North Africa

Arizona Environmental Flows and Water Demand Bulletin: Colorado River Region

Published: 
August 3, 2012
The National Institutes for Water Resources
This bulletin provides a concise introduction to the current knowledge about environmental water demands in the Colorado River Region. It outlines gaps in the understanding of environmental demands and illustrates how environmental demands can be considered in the context of other regional water...Read more
Regional focus: 
Latin America and the Caribbean

Arizona Environmental Flows and Water Demand Bulletin: Central Arizona Region

Published: 
August 3, 2012
The National Institutes for Water Resources
This bulletin provides a concise introduction to the current knowledge about environmental water demands in the Central Arizona Region. It outlines gaps in the understanding of environmental demands and illustrates how environmental demands can be considered in the context of other regional water...Read more
Regional focus: 
Latin America and the Caribbean

Environmental Flow and Water Demands: Southeastern Arizona

Published: 
August 3, 2012
The National Institutes for Water Resources
This bulletin provides a concise introduction to the current knowledge about environmental water demands in the Southeastern Arizona Region. It outlines gaps in the understanding of environmental demands and illustrates how environmental demands can be considered in the context of other regional...Read more
Regional focus: 
Latin America and the Caribbean

Southwest Climate Assessment

Published: 
June 1, 2012
The National Institutes for Water Resources
Natural climate variability is a prominent factor that affects many aspects of life, livelihoods, landscapes, and decision-making across the Southwestern U.S. (Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah; included are the adjacent United States-Mexico border and Southwest Native...Read more

Water Recycling FAQs

Published: 
May 1, 2012
The National Institutes for Water Resources
Increasing demands on limited water resources have made wastewater recycling (reclamation or reuse) an attractive option for extending water supplies. Treatment technologies have evolved such that recycled water is of sufficient quality to satisfy most non-potable demands, and as such, recycled...Read more

Arroyo 2012 Border Water Source of Conflict and Cooperation

Published: 
January 1, 2012
The National Institutes for Water Resources
The U.S-Mexico border is not only where two countries meet, but where different cultures face a common need for effective and sustainable use of the available resources. The management of resources and environmental hazards in this region is challenging. Agencies from both countries are addressing...Read more
Regional focus: 
Latin America and the Caribbean

Moving Forward from Vulnerability to Adaptation

Published: 
January 1, 2012
The National Institutes for Water Resources
Tucson is located in the semi-arid northern reaches of the Sonoran Desert in southeastern Arizona, with mountains on each side - the Santa Catalinas to the north, the Rincons to the east, the Tucson Mountains to the west, and the Santa Ritas to the south. Most of the population of the greater...Read more
Regional focus: 
Latin America and the Caribbean

Majority of China's Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plants Located in Water-Stressed Regions

World Resources Institute
This document analyzes the future of coal-power in China, focusing on the impacts the construction of these plants will have in already water-stressed regions. Such impacts include further straining already-scare resources and threatening water security for China's farms, other industries, and...Read more
Regional focus: 
ChinaEast Asia and Pacific

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