ECONOMICS (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -Water scarcity (closely related to water stress or water crisis) is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two types of water scarcity: physical water scarcity and economic water scarcity.

Detailed explanation-2: -A drought is defined as “a period of abnormally dry weather sufficiently prolonged for the lack of water to cause serious hydrologic imbalance in the affected area.”-Glossary of Meteorology (1959).

Detailed explanation-3: -Water scarcity limits access to safe water for drinking and for practising basic hygiene at home, in schools and in health-care facilities. When water is scarce, sewage systems can fail and the threat of contracting diseases like cholera surges. Scarce water also becomes more expensive.

Detailed explanation-4: -Water scarcity is a condition when there are insufficient freshwater resources to meet the human and environmental demands of a given area. Of all the water found on Earth, 97.3% is saltwater contained in the oceans which is not suitable for direct human consumption.

Detailed explanation-5: -Water scarcity refers to the situation where potable, unpolluted water is lower than the demand in a region.