As cities grow, technology could help the world’s thirst
As competition for water increases, the world’s fast-growing cities will demand an ever larger share – and should be able to afford to pay for it, says Colin Chartres, director general of the International Water Management Institute, based in Sri Lanka. But that bigger urban share will come at the expense of agricultural water, leaving farmers –today the largest users of freshwater worldwide – trying to grow much more food to meet rising population growth and expanding appetites, all with less water. Technology and changing old practices could make a difference, says Chartres, noting that capturing and saving water and reducing waste – both on the farm and in cities – could help ensure there is enough to go around.
