Groundwater provides about half of the world's population with drinking water and nearly half of all water used to irrigate crops. It can take decades or even centuries for some aquifers to recover after they are depleted.
Some parts of Iran had a 50 to 85 % reduction in precipitation this year. There are also temperature rises of 2-3 C. These factors have prompted tensions between the Iranian government and its citizens.
The human-caused climate change made the ‘Day Zero’ drought in southwestern South Africa — named after the day when Cape Town’s municipal water supply would need to be shut off — five to six times more likely.
Cape Town might have dodged Day Zero, but a new hyper-consciousness of water use looks set to be the new normal — and not just for the drought-hit African city.
World Water Day is drawing attention to the growing threat of water scarcity. Some countries are making the most of every drop they use – but others are still squeamish about reusing wastewater.
Although Cape Town has pushed back day zero – the day that the city runs out of water – until June 4, the country re-assessed the magnitude of the drought and determined that it has reached disaster proportions.
