Managing Water Scarcity: Why water conservation matters to business

摘要

In recent years, the issue of water scarcity has often hit the headlines. Some states have gone to court over water rights and access even as others have agonized over scarce supplies. Water scarcity and drought have far-reaching impacts on regional and global economies and ecosystems. More than 20 percent of the world's population lacks access to safe drinking water, and more than 40 percent lives in water-stressed areas. The bottom line is that our water stewardship practices have significant consequences for people, industry and the environment. As nations develop, industry accounts for an increasing percentage of total water use, often creating conflicts between industrial water needs and water required for agriculture and human consumption. This leads to industry efforts to conserve and reduce water use.