Currently, more than 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safely managed drinking water. Furthermore, 3.6 billion lack access to sanitation services. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that diarrhea-related diseases, cause about 480,000 deaths annually among children under 5. These deaths are preventable through simple sanitation, proper hygiene and access to safe water. Due to insufficient resources, many communities face high disease and mortality rates. The United Nations (U.N.) World Water Development Report’s 2023 edition warns that global water scarcity issues could potentially affect up to 2.4 billion people, doubling from 930 million, if no action is taken.

Changing Climate and Water Scarcity

The changing climate intensifies water scarcity by increasing the frequency of extreme flooding and droughts. According to the U.N., extreme drought will likely expand its coverage across the land steadily. Water-related disasters cause nearly 70% of all deaths linked to natural disasters. In the last two decades, the occurrence of flood-related disasters has increased by 134%. Asia is particularly affected, suffering significant flood-related deaths and economic losses. Simultaneously, many countries facing challenges with safe sanitation and water access also suffer from these water-based disasters, leading to deaths, economic damages and health issues due to floods and droughts.

The Condon Hydrology Lab

Laura Condon, an assistant professor at the University of Arizona, is committed to developing water sustainability tools. Leading the Condon Hydrology Lab, her research group focuses on studying the availability and sustainability of freshwater resources. As a specialist in groundwater research, she understands that watershed behaviors in today’s changing climate could unlock new solutions to water scarcity.

Laura Condon co-leads “Hydroframe,” a project that works in tandem with the “Hydrogen” modeling platform to simulate watershed system forecasts. Condon is enthusiastic about developing new methods to enhance the speed and accuracy of seasonal forecasts. She notes that the pursuit of sustainable water management has been a long-standing concern and her team at the Hydrology Lab is at the forefront of this research. By testing these innovations in America, the project aims not only to address domestic water scarcity but also to expand its impact globally, helping to alleviate water scarcity worldwide.

Looking Ahead

Ensuring access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation for billions of people could address the global water scarcity crisis. Innovations in hydrological research, such as those pioneered by Laura Condon, aim to create sustainable water management solutions. By improving the accuracy of water resource forecasts and developing effective conservation strategies, these ongoing efforts can potentially combat water scarcity and enhance resilience against the changing climate, securing vital resources for future generations.

– Hailey Nurry

Hailey is based in Pennsylvania, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr