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.

Water Supply and Scarcity Resources

Addressing Water Misconceptions in Katutura

Publication date:
January 1, 2005
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Namibia is the driest country south of the Sahara. The administration of Windhoek, the capital, predicts that by the year 2020, the water demands will be greater than the supply. Many residents in Katutura, a mainly black section of Windhoek, have misconceptions about the quality of water they...Read more

An Analysis of Small-Scale Wind Pump Design for Use in Developing Countries

Publication date:
January 1, 2013
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
The aim of this project was to design and construct a wind pump that is able to provide water to a rural third world village. This was achieved by using a Savonius-Darrieus turbine connected to a rope pump in order to create a system that was robust and easy to construct in a low-technology area...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
Global

Regional Water Management Cooperation

Publication date:
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/Country focus:
United States
North America

Somalia Livelihoods Support (Solis I and II)

Publication date:
February 28, 2014
U.S. Agency for International Development
The Somalia Livelihoods Support (SOLIS) project was implemented in two phases of 12 and 17 months respectively, ending in November 2012. It started during the end of the rainy season in 2010, continued through the drought and subsequent famine of 2011 (the worst drought to hit Somalia in 60 years)...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
Somalia
Sub-Saharan Africa

Solutions for a Water-Scarce Future

Publication date:
October 22, 2013
Xylem, Inc.
Of the many challenges facing cities around the world, water scarcity is one of the most pervasive. Municipal authorities are well aware of the highly visible dangers of floods, mudslides, tsunamis, and storm surges that have captured headlines around the world. But just as dangerous to the future...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
India
South East Asia

Building Local Well Drilling Capacity in Senegal

Publication date:
August 1, 2013
Relief International
U.S. Agency for International Development
An overview of various well drilling technologies and their costs, this document also provides a case for the adoption of manually drilling wells where appropriate. Manually drilling wells, when professionalized, can be completed at the same level of quality as mechanized rigs but at 1/4 of the...Read more
Regional/Country focus:
Senegal
Sub-Saharan Africa

Water Stress and Changing Hydrology in Glacier-Dependent Countries in Asia

Publication date:
June 1, 2013
Skoll Global Threats Fund
U.S. Agency for International Development
Using data from FAO's global information system on water and agriculture (AQUASAT) and its own population estimates, the World Bank calculated the renewable water resources for 214 countries.Read more
Regional/Country focus:
South East Asia

Aqueduct Metadata Document: Aqueduct Global Maps 2.0

Publication date:
January 1, 2013
World Resources Institute
This document describes the specific characteristics of the indicator data and calculations for the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas Global Maps. Complete guidelines and processes for data collection, calculations, and mapping techniques are described fully in the Aqueduct Water Risk Framework.Read more

Aqueduct Water Risk Framework

Publication date:
January 1, 2013
World Resources Institute
The Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas provides a set of indicators that capture a wide range of variables, and aggregates them into comprehensive scores using the Water Risk Framework. Companies can use this information to prioritize actions, investors to leverage financial interest to improve water...Read more

Water Optimizer

Publication date:
January 1, 2013
Developed by UNL faculty and DWFI faculty fellows, the Water Optimizer is a suite of programs to predict the profit maximizing cropping strategy and corresponding amount of applied irrigation when water supplies are limited.Read more

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