Water map shows billions at risk

[Still Waters]

About 80% of the world's population lives in areas where the fresh water supply is not secure, according to a new global analysis.

Researchers compiled a composite index of "water threats" that includes issues such as scarcity and pollution.

The most severe threat category encompasses 3.4 billion people.

Writing in the journal Nature, they say that in western countries, conserving water for people through reservoirs and dams works for people, but not nature.

They urge developing countries not to follow the same path.

Instead, they say governments should to invest in water management strategies that combine infrastructure with "natural" options such as safeguarding watersheds, wetlands and flood plains.

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[danielost]

yes, why should they store water for years of draught.

i mean they wanted to drain lake powell for years, then the west gets hit by a draught that effectively drained the lake by the time it was over. if that water hadnt been there, millions of died of thrist and hunger.