- Half of Americans believe in the need to act to reduce wastage and promote water security - yet, over a quarter doubt their country's infrastructure can maintain water security, exceeding the global average of 23%.
- 2024 BSI / Waterwise Water Security Indicator shows almost a third of countries perform worse on water security than they did in 2023, while 44% show no change.
- Poll of 9,300+ worldwide shows just one in six see politicians talk about water security regularly.
3 Oct 2024: The US has been identified as the country facing the highest level of water security challenges, with relatively limited progress toward solutions, according to new analysis by BSI and Waterwise. No improvement was observed in the water security of 31 countries over the past year out of 41 reviewed, with the US scoring 53 out of 85, followed by China at 50 and India at 52.
The study combines publicly available data with international polling of over 9,300 people to evaluate how water insecurity is perceived, finding a concerning disconnect between the reality of the challenge, public understanding of its severity, and the action required to turn things around.
The report found that while 58% of US respondents recognize water security as an important global issue, only 28% have a good understanding of the country's current level of water security, and just 21% are aware of how water secure the US will be in the future. The polling data suggests gaps between the reality of the global water challenge and public comprehension of the scale of the issue, with 73% claiming to be confident in their country’s freshwater supply and over half (60%) confident that the US government has the right water security plan in place. This is despite the fact that only 14% see water security discussed regularly by politicians or media, while annual water use rose by around 3,500 billion m3 globally between 1900 and 20241 and is projected to worsen.
Less than half (43%) of US respondents cited water security as being as important an issue as addressing climate change, but two-thirds (63%) identified flooding, and nearly all respondents (90%) identified droughts as major issues in the country. More positively, half of Americans believe in the need to act, stating that it is important for individuals to reduce waste and promote water security where possible. For example, two-thirds support the introduction of water labeling to help them make more sustainable choices. Additionally, 64% are willing to spend more on clothing brands that prioritize water efficiency.
The US was one of nine countries to be assessed for both the challenge and progress towards solutions, with the remainder assessed only for the challenge. Of the 41 whose water insecurity was reviewed, 13 countries received higher scores than last year, representing greater water insecurity in 2024 – among them Türkiye, North Macedonia, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In Asia, China, India, and Japan also received worse scores for this component. The greatest increase in the challenge score was seen in Spain, which went up by five points, due to an increasing proportion of the country’s available freshwater being abstracted, a decrease in the price of water relative to national GDP and a decrease in water use efficiency.
Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive, BSI said: “While we are seeing pockets of progress towards a water secure world, there is more to do to promote understanding and positive change. This begins with awareness and recognition of the scale of the challenge, and how it fits into broader conversations about climate change and sustainability, from there our politicians and leaders can pave the way for action.
“While there is no single solution, we can and should take action today—from implementing water efficiency labelling to improving consumer choices, to advancing wastewater management in pharmaceutical development. There is much we, as individuals, organizations, and society, can achieve collectively. At BSI, we believe that individuals and organizations can come together to drive progress toward a sustainable future, where the supply of fresh water meets growing demands.”
Nicci Russell, CEO, Waterwise said: “Whilst there is a genuine appetite in the public to be part of the solution, the water security challenges our world faces remain with us. Progress is frustratingly slow in most of the world and in other parts, the challenges posed by water security are actually growing. What is crystal clear from the research is that a key part of the solution is making sure that we use the water that we do have wisely in our homes and workplaces. In doing so, we will ensure that we adapt to climate change better, secure water supplies for people and businesses, and enhance the environment.”
BSI sets out tangible areas for action in the report, including calling on media and policymakers, along with businesses and other organizations, to shape the conversation and raise awareness by incorporating water security into climate discussions. Additionally, BSI is urging consumers to be supported to make informed, sustainable choices, for example via tools like mandatory water efficiency labels, used in Australia and Singapore, to boost consumer awareness and market innovation in water conservation.
Notes to editors
The 2023 Thirst for Change report and the first Water Security Indicator can be accessed here.
Interactive Dashboard of results can be accessed here.
References:
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/global-freshwater-use-over-the-long-run
Methodology
The BSI Water Security and Solutions Indicator 2024 is a high-level index exploring use of water
at a country scale; with a focus on municipal/public water supplies. It brings together two elements, the first focusing on the challenge (drawing on publicly available data on water availability, water use, water risk and water wastage).
The second part looks at solutions, with a specific focus on the infrastructure in place and on public attitudes, as gathered from a poll of 9,000 people in nine countries.
The lower the challenge score, the lower the level of water security risk for that country. The lower the solutions score, the fewest barriers to solutions and progress for that country i.e. the better placed the country is to implement the solutions that can help address the challenge.
Both provide an inter-country comparison for the target countries showcasing, at a high level, where progress is underway to address water insecurity, and where there may be potential for improvement.
About BSI:
BSI is a business improvement and standards company that partners with more than 77,500 clients globally across multiple industry sectors. BSI provides organizations with the confidence to grow by working with them to tackle society’s critical issues – from climate change to building trust in AI and everything in between - to accelerate progress towards a fair society and a sustainable world.
For over a century BSI has been recognized for having a positive impact on organizations and society, building trust and enhancing lives. Today BSI engages with a 15,000 strong global community of experts, industry and consumer groups, organizations and governments to deliver on its purpose by helping its clients fulfil theirs.
