The state of the world's water : an altas of our most vital resource (Third edition)

Water is our most vital resource. The growing demands made by an increasing number of people adopting urban lifestyles and Western diets, coupled with a changing and less predictable climate, are putting pressure on the planet's freshwater supply as never before.

By 2025, four billion people may be living in conditions of water stress. And, even where water is plentiful, the poor are unlikely to have ready access to a safe, cheap supply.