How to tackle the growing global water crisis

Our blue planet’s fresh water is in danger of drying up.

With the combined effects of climate change, growing industrial demands and expanding populations, our demand for clean water is exceeding our supply. And for millions worldwide, the strain is manifesting in tangible and devastating ways. Girls in remote villages must stop schooling to undertake long, dangerous journeys to fetch water for their households. Urban communities struck by drought live through days and weeks of water lock-offs, unable to cook or wash. Fishermen and tour guides watch, year by year, as the essential rivers and lakes they’ve built their lives around drop to lower and lower levels.

 

Over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water, and by 2030, global demand for freshwater is projected to exceed supply by up to 40%. This is not just a household crisis. Water is the backbone of agriculture, energy production, and manufacturing, essential for growing food, generating power, and cooling data centers that support our digital world. Cities depend on vast water resources to sustain daily operations, from infrastructure to industrial processes. We need urgent and innovative solutions to manage this precious resource sustainably and to secure our future.

To help bring us closer to solutions for this critical issue, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week hosted the web series United for Water: Can Corporations, Utilities, and Regulators Prevent a Global Crisis? Featuring perspectives from industry leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts, this series explored how innovative solutions and partnerships can safeguard our water resources for generations to come.

Water scarcity is a complex problem, and these experts agreed that it demands a collaborative response. Where can we begin? Recommendations emerging from the conversation covered four broad areas: technology, regulation, community engagement, and cooperation.

Water Security Success Stories

For leaders and experts, technology and partnership are two powerful tools that can make immediate, impactful differences in water management. Advancements in technological innovation are revolutionizing how we monitor, distribute, and conserve water. AI-powered leak detection, smart irrigation systems, and IoT-enabled water meters help utilities and industries optimize water use and prevent millions of gallons of water loss each year.

Aside from AI, time-tested water management technologies like desalination and water reuse have become essential strategies in water-scarce regions.


 
Public-private partnerships play a crucial role in improving water access and efficiency by bringing together governments, businesses, and local communities to pool resources and expertise. One example of the power of partnership is South Africa’s Strategic Water Partners Network, which builds bridges across sectors to reduce water losses, improve efficiency in agriculture, and invest in critical infrastructure.

But beyond technology and strategic partnerships, behavior change must be at the root of climate efforts. For this, there are two levers that can be pulled: education and policy. 

Effective regulatory support and pricing strategies are proven mechanisms to encourage responsible water use while maintaining fairness in distribution. Governments worldwide are adopting policies that reflect the true value of water, discouraging waste without disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations. Singapore’s Water Conservation Tax is a prime example, using a tiered pricing model that incentivizes efficient usage – higher consumption leads to higher rates – while keeping water affordable for lower-income households. 

Finally, community engagement and public awareness are essential for driving behavioral change. Public campaigns, grassroots initiatives, and education programs can encourage individuals and businesses to adopt more sustainable water practices. One standout example is Australia’s Target 155 campaign, launched during severe droughts in Melbourne. By encouraging residents to limit their daily water use to 155 liters per person, the initiative successfully reduced water consumption and reinforced long-term awareness about the importance of conservation. Similar community-driven efforts can empower people to demand better water policies and take meaningful action in their daily lives.

Balancing business needs and water preservation

To strike a balance between the growing demand for water across industries and the critical need for water preservation, collaboration is key. As the number of data centers grows exponentially, for example, many companies' data centers are located in regions where resources like water are abundant and energy costs are low. Instead of competing for water, companies can collaborate to create sustainable solutions.
 
A compelling example is a first-of-its-kind water reuse utility in Washington State, where a Microsoft data center located within an industrial park alongside agricultural processors in a water-scarce area led to the creation of a water reuse utility that reinjects treated water back into the aquifer. This innovative solution faced significant regulatory hurdles, but it exemplifies the importance of public-private partnerships in tackling water scarcity, proving that when both business and public interests are aligned, corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship need not be at odds.
 
Many industries, such as mining, textiles, and energy, are also deeply tied to water use. According to the International Energy Agency, the energy sector accounts for 10% of global freshwater consumption. Technologies supporting the renewable energy transformation, like green hydrogen and solar power, require significant water resources. And conversely, desalination is energy-intensive. As these technologies scale, it becomes critical for companies to invest in water-efficient solutions. Another Microsoft data center case study used existing air-to-water generation technology to begin operations in the midst of a historic drought in South Africa, while also giving excess water to local NGOs and using philanthropic funds to shore up water local hospitals’ water infrastructure against future drought. This shows how corporate innovation can support sustainable water use while looking outside its own walls to meet both business needs and community needs. 

Case study: The UAE

In the midst of the desert with a rapidly growing population, the UAE is at the forefront of water security, combining technology, policy, and strategic investments to meet increasing water demands. 

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is pioneering energy-efficient desalination, including reverse osmosis technology, which reduces the energy required to produce freshwater. Additionally, DEWA’s aquifer storage and recovery program helps create a strategic reserve by injecting desalinated water underground. Set to be completed by 2025, the full scale of the project can store up to 6,000 million imperial gallons of water, ensuring long-term water availability. 

In Abu Dhabi, TAQA Generation is developing the Shuweihat 4 Reverse Osmosis desalination plant in partnership with GS Inima, a more than $400 million project set to produce 70 million imperial gallons of potable water per day by 2026. Meanwhile, TAQA Water Solutions is improving wastewater management with a $40 million project to upgrade infrastructure in select growing communities, boosting water treatment capacity while reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Beyond technological advancements, the UAE is also investing in global water security initiatives. The Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative is driving innovation, funding, awareness raising and collaboration for water-scarce regions worldwide. By integrating cutting-edge infrastructure, policy-driven conservation efforts, and public-private partnerships, the UAE is not only enhancing its own water resilience but also setting a model for water security globally.

Water scarcity is not an insurmountable challenge. Through targeted investment, policy innovation, and community-driven initiatives, we can build a more water-secure future. The conversation on water security must continue to expand, and all stakeholders – including governments, corporations, and civil society – must commit to collective action.