Water: Global Supply & Management

Water is essential for life, agriculture, industry, and sanitation — yet it is one of the most unevenly distributed resources on Earth. This lesson examines global patterns of water supply and demand, the causes and consequences of water insecurity, and the large-scale strategies used to manage and increase water supply. This is a core part of the AQA GCSE Geography specification.

---

The Global Water Crisis

Key Statistics

• 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, but only 2.5% is freshwater
• Of that freshwater, about 69% is locked in ice caps and glaciers
• Only about 0.3% of the world's total water is accessible surface freshwater (rivers, lakes, swamps)
• Approximately 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water
• By 2025, half the world's population could be living in water-stressed areas

Water Surplus and Deficit