Drinking water

With a global drinking water crisis on the horizon, technologies old and new make the most of existing water resources

Potable water” simply means water that is safe to drink, and it is becoming scarcer in the world. Increasing use is stressing freshwater resources worldwide, and a seemingly endless list of contaminants can turn once potable water into a health hazard or simply make it unacceptable aesthetically.

Of the more than 2 billion people who lack potable water at home, 844 million don’t have even basic drinking water service, including 263 million who must travel 30 minutes per trip to collect water. About 159 million drink untreated surface water.

Demand for fresh water worldwide is projected to increase 55% between 2000 and 2050, and recently, NASA scientists have determined that freshwater resources are being used faster than they are being replenished. Potable water is fundamental to human life, and we can expect it to be a growing issue for the foreseeable future.