The world’s total water resources are enormous, but only a small amount of this water is accessible for the human population. 2,6% of the total water supply is fresh water. Around the world, roughly 1.2 billion people lack even marginally adequate access to drinking water. The United Nations estimate that this number could increase six fold by the year 2025.

Water shortage
The lack of water causes serious food shortage. Especially in semi-arid and arid regions, there is a high demand on irrigation, otherwise the crop harvests would drop dramatically. Nearly 80% of all diseases in developing countries are associated with inadequate water quality. Every year, poor sanitary conditions cost the lives of 12 million people.

Water shortage and the growing pressure on the availability of water may also result in serious domestic, regional and international conflicts. Nearly 300 major river basins and many underground aquifers cross national boundaries worldwide (UN 1999). Shared responsibilities and cooperation are the prerequisites in order to guarantee access to the water resources to all the parties involved.

Water is the source of life
Water issues do concern almost all Misereor projects (Water is the source of life 282Kb). Water is the most basic element of life in general. Therefore in projects, which have the goal to ensure a staple food supply, gender equality, increasing rural income, health, to reduce migration to the cities etc., water management plays a major role.