UN warns world could have 40 percent water shortfall by 2030

By Michelle Nurse Last updated Mar 20, 2015

An Indian villager walks through floodwaters to collect drinking water from a hand pump in Burhaburhi village in the Morigaon district of north eastern Assam state, India. A UN report released, March, 20, 2015, warns that the world will suffer a serious shortfall of potable water by 2030 unless people and nations dramatically change the way they use the resource. (Photo via AP/Anupam Nath, File) — An Indian villager walks through floodwaters to collect drinking water from a hand pump in Burhaburhi village in the Morigaon district of north eastern Assam state, India. A UN report released, March, 20, 2015, warns that the world will suffer a serious shortfall of potable water by 2030 unless people and nations dramatically change the way they use the resource. (**Photo via AP/Anupam Nath, File**)

NEW DELHI (AP) — The world could suffer a 40 percent shortfall in water in just 15 years unless countries dramatically change their use of the resource, a U.N. report warned Friday.[su_pullquote align=”right”]”Unless the balance between demand and finite supplies is restored, the world will face an increasingly severe global water deficit.” Annual World Water Development Report [/su_pullquote]

Many underground water reserves are already running low, while rainfall patterns are predicted to become more erratic with climate change. As the world’s population grows to an expected 9 billion by 2050, more groundwater will be needed for farming, industry and personal consumption.

The report predicts global water demand will increase 55 percent by 2050, while reserves dwindle. If current usage trends don’t change, the world will have only 60 percent of the water it needs in 2030, it said.