Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Urbanization has become one of the defining trends of the 21st century, with cities around the world expanding at unprecedented rates. While urban growth brings economic opportunities and improved infrastructure, it also places immense pressure on natural resources—particularly water. Water scarcity has emerged as a critical challenge in many rapidly growing cities, where the demand for water is outpacing supply due to a combination of population explosion, industrial expansion, unplanned urban development, and climate variability. In many cities, the situation is aggravated by the over-reliance on depleting groundwater sources, the degradation and encroachment of natural water bodies, and inefficient water distribution networks. Aging infrastructure, inequitable access, and poor governance further compound the crisis. Cities like Bangalore, Cape Town, and Mexico City exemplify how once water-abundant regions can reach the brink of “Day Zero”—the day when municipal water taps run dry. Urban water scarcity is not merely a supply-side problem. It is a multi-dimensional issue encompassing economic, social, and environmental aspects, often disproportionately affecting the urban poor. As cities continue to grow, it becomes imperative to adopt sustainable water management practices, including demand-side strategies, conservation, recycling, decentralized systems, and community participation. Addressing urban water scarcity requires integrated, forward-looking solutions that align with urban planning, climate resilience, and social equity. Without urgent and innovative interventions, water insecurity could undermine the very foundations of urban sustainability.
Author: Antony Joby
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409802849