Water Scarcity

Water is essential for agriculture, sanitation, industry, recreation, energy and maintaining natural ecosystems. It is often considered a limitless resource. But as climate change alters the patterns of rainfall, snowfall, and runoff, water scarcity looms over nearly half of the United States. Although scarcity is commonly considered a problem for Western states, wells have been running dry across the country. Nonrenewable groundwater stores are being depleted, particularly in urban areas where the water supply is stretched to meet growing demand.