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.

Water – the most fundamental of natural resources – is coming under pressure. And not just in the increasingly parched Middle East or North Africa. Even in Europe, about a third of the landmass and about 11 percent of the population suffers from water shortages.

Access to water is increasingly a source of conflict, and scientists say climate change is set to exacerbate water scarcity. Making the most of the water we have is becoming essential to securing supply. And that might mean getting over squeamishness about wastewater. Read more

Water is a fascinating subject for artists. How best to capture waves, ripples and reflections, how to paint eddying, swirling, translucent water? A refreshing art tour across the centuries. Read more

Clean fresh water is scarce throughout much of the world with as many as 2.1 billion people lacking safe drinking water at home. And climate change is adding to the stress. These innovations could help.

Producing drinking water, no power needed

In many parts of the world, the problem isn’t just a shortage of water, it’s that the available water is dirty. Not surprising considering that 80 percent of the sewage in developing countries is discharged untreated.  That’s where devices like the SunSpring Hybrid  come in. The shiny cylinder houses a self-contained water filtration system that can turn more than 20,000 liters of dirty water into drinking water every day. Perhaps more importantly, it can be set up quickly just about anywhere, as long as there is a water source like a river or a well nearby. Built-in solar panels and an optional wind turbine means it doesn’t need a power supply, which means it could be used in remote regions without access to electricity or places hit by extreme weather events or natural disasters. Read more

India is suffering from the worst water crisis in its history. But Rajender Singh has been working to restore supply to more than a thousand villages, and has rejuvenated 11 rivers using traditional techniques.

It’s early morning in the northern Indian city of Alwar, 95 miles (153 kilometers) south of the capital New Delhi. Scores of women have gathered at a municipal tap to get water for their families. Each of them has brought numerous vessels to collect as much water as possible, as supply is limited.

India is suffering from the worst water crisis in its history, and millions of livelihoods are under threat according to a recent report by the National Institution for Transforming India, a policy think tank. Read more

Water scarcity has long been a problem for those living in Morocco’s Anti-Atlas mountain range. Harvesting fog for water could help.

Water is a scarce and precious resource in the communities around Mount Boutmezguida in Morocco’s Anti-Atlas mountain range. The region is one of the driest in the country – a situation worsened by climate change. But one thing the area does have is plenty of fog. That gave the people at nongovernmental organization Dar Si Hmad the idea to implement an innovative and eco-friendly technology to improve the lives of the farmers living in the area. Read more