Addressing Water Scarcity

Water is essential for life, yet nearly half of the world’s population faces severe water scarcity for at least part of the year. This growing global challenge has serious implications – especially for water-intensive sectors such as agriculture (which accounts for 70% of freshwater withdrawals), industry (just under 20%), and municipal or domestic use (around 12%).

The good news? There are already well-established water treatment, wastewater treatment, and water reuse technologies that can help address both water scarcity and the declining quality of available water resources, supporting more resilient and sustainable water management systems. 

In this article, you’ll discover practical strategies to improve industrial water use — creating a win–win situation where you address challenges related to declining water quality, reduce freshwater demand,  and minimize harmful environmental discharges. We’ll also give you a sneak peek into Mobile Water Solutions’ advanced technologies and expert support to help plant managers implement effective water treatment, wastewater treatment, and reuse systems.

Water scarcity is a seasonal, annual or multi-annual water stress condition in which the demand for water exceeds the available supply, either in terms of quantity or quality. This scarcity can stem from two main causes: unavailability and inaccessibility.

Unavailability refers to physical scarcity. A shortage of freshwater resources can be a result of human-made factors, such as population growth, pollution, over-extraction of groundwater, agricultural demand, and industrial water use. Oftentimes, water scarcity is a natural consequence of climate-related factors, including prolonged droughts, floods, and declining rainfall patterns.

Inaccessibility, on the other hand, is related to economic scarcity and happens when water is present in the environment but cannot be effectively accessed, treated, or distributed. This is often due to aging or insufficient infrastructure, poor maintenance, or lack of investment.

Although water scarcity is particularly acute in arid and semi-arid regions such as South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, where both unavailability and inaccessibility are common, it is by no means a localised problem. It is a global challenge. In 2019, 38% of the EU population and nearly a third of EU territory experienced the negative effects of water scarcity, particularly in southern Europe, where rising temperatures and prolonged droughts are becoming more frequent.

Regardless of location, all regions are affected in complex and interconnected ways. Water scarcity threatens environmental health, economic stability, and social cohesion, making it one of the most pressing global challenges of our time.

Environmental consequences

Water scarcity places immense stress on natural ecosystems. Reduced river flows, shrinking lakes, and drying wetlands lead to the destruction of habitats, the decline of aquatic species, and broader losses in biodiversity. Additionally, dry conditions increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires, which in turn release carbon into the atmosphere and further degrade ecosystems. 

Pollution also becomes a greater threat in water-scarce areas. With less water to dilute waste, pollutants concentrate, harming aquatic life and making water sources unsafe for both animals and humans. 

Economic consequences

The economic costs of water scarcity are staggering and set to rise. In low- and lower-middle-income countries, 70–80% of jobs rely on water, particularly in agriculture, which depends on reliable irrigation. Water shortages can devastate crop yields and disrupt food supply chains, leading to food price inflation and economic hardship for millions.

Even in high-income regions, the impact is felt. In 2019, drought-related water scarcity caused estimated losses of €2 to €9 billion across Europe, affecting sectors from agriculture to energy production. Industries such as manufacturing, mining, and tourism – especially those with high water demands – also face rising costs, operational delays, and reduced productivity as water becomes less accessible.

Social consequences

Water scarcity is increasingly recognised as a driver of social instability. It can fuel competition over limited resources, increase inequality, and contribute to conflict – especially in regions where water access is already contested. Globally, water stress is linked to approximately 10% of migration flows, as communities are forced to leave their homes due to failing crops, dried-up water sources, or worsening living conditions.

Health outcomes also intensify. In many regions, especially rural ones, water scarcity limits access to safe drinking water and sanitation. This increases the spread of water-borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid. Inadequate water for hygiene can also worsen conditions in healthcare settings, making it harder to manage disease outbreaks.

Industry has a mutual interaction with freshwater – it relies on it heavily, while also contributing significantly to its over-extraction and pollution. 

Seven major sectors – food, textiles, energy, industry, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and mining – are responsible for 70% of the world’s freshwater use, often returning water contaminated with chemicals, further reducing its availability.

At the same time, water scarcity poses growing risks for industry itself. Reduced water availability and stricter regulations are exposing businesses to operational, financial, and reputational threats. 

A six-year survey of over 16,000 formal firms in more than 100 economies found that each additional water outage in a typical month caused an average sales loss of 8.7%. The impact is even more severe for informal firms, which reported a 34.8% loss across 18 economies in Africa, South Asia, and Latin America.

Increased pollution also means companies face growing costs for water treatment, compliance with environmental standards, and potential fines. In some regions, inadequate industrial water use has led to factory closures, public protests, or loss of market access due to non-compliance with international sustainability standards.

As both a driver and a victim of water stress, industry must take urgent steps to improve water conservation through water and wastewater treatment, water reuse, and sustainable water management.

As water scarcity becomes more frequent and complex, the need for sustainable water management solutions has grown more urgent. One of the most effective responses is the advancement of water treatment, wastewater treatment and water reuse technologies, which help with water conservation and reducing dependency on increasingly stressed freshwater supplies.

Water treatment is essential in addressing water scarcity by adapting to changing feed water conditions, such as fluctuations in quality and availability caused by droughts or overuse of freshwater sources. Advanced treatment processes can handle variable or lower-quality feed water ensuring that industries maintain reliable water supplies without relying solely on scarce freshwater. 

Building on this adaptability, water reuse – or water recycling – takes sustainability a step further by reclaiming water from diverse sources, such as wastewater, greywater, rainwater, borehole water, or desalinated seawater. By treating this water appropriately and using it again for industrial, agricultural, or even potable purposes, water reuse plays a vital role in a circular water economy and a practical strategy to mitigate the growing risks of water stress.

The benefits of water reuse are substantial:

• Reduce pressure on freshwater supplies
• Lower operational costs and environmental impacts
• Enhance water security in drought-prone areas
• Improve compliance with environmental regulations

Water reuse is enabled by a wide range of technologies that adapt to different water sources and intended uses. Water and wastewater treatment systems are chosen based on the type of contaminants present and the quality requirements of the end use.

Key water and wastewater treatment technologies include:

• Filtration and ultrafiltration – remove solids and microbes
• Reverse osmosis (including seawater RO) – remove salts and dissolved impurities
• Deionisation and degassing – for high-purity industrial applications
• Clarification and softening – reduce turbidity and hardness
• Dissolved air flotation (DAF) – separates oils and suspended solids, ideal for oily or food-related wastewater
• Desalination – removes salts and other minerals from seawater and brackish groundwater

Industries are implementing water reuse in diverse ways:

• Process water recycling: In manufacturing and food processing, treated rinse water or cleaning water is reused in non-critical stages, reducing intake and discharge.
• Cooling and boiler water loops: Cooling tower blowdown and boiler condensate are increasingly treated and reused on-site.
• Borehole water purification: In regions with poor-quality groundwater, filtration, softening, and RO systems enable safe industrial water use.

Adopting effective water, water reuse and wastewater treatment strategies offers wide-ranging benefits for both industry and society. Beyond addressing immediate operational needs, these solutions contribute meaningfully to long-term water security and sustainable water management.

By water recycling, industries can significantly lower their reliance on freshwater sources. This reduces the volume of water extracted from rivers, aquifers, or municipal supplies – helping preserve natural ecosystems and easing pressure on local water infrastructure. At the same time, lowering water intake and discharge volumes often translates into reduced water procurement, treatment, and disposal costs.

Water reuse and wastewater treatment directly support sustainability goals by minimizing water waste, reducing pollution, and limiting the environmental footprint of industrial operations. Treating and reusing water helps prevent harmful effluents from entering natural water bodies, protects biodiversity, and aligns with broader ESG commitments.

Investing in alternative water sources enhances an industry’s resilience to droughts, water restrictions, and supply disruptions. Facilities with closed-loop or diversified water systems are better equipped to maintain operations during climate-driven water shortages.

As water regulations tighten and public awareness grows, companies face increasing scrutiny over industrial water use and discharge practices. Implementing advanced water solutions not only ensures compliance with environmental standards but also strengthens relationships with local communities, regulators, and investors. Demonstrating responsible, sustainable water management can help secure a company’s social license to operate and protect its reputation.

Mobile water systems: Typical water scarcity applications

Mobile Water Solutions support companies dealing with changing feedwater quality caused by water scarcity. As droughts or overuse impact water sources like surface water and borehole water, feedwater quality often deteriorates, showing increased salinity, higher chloride levels, elevated conductivity, and more suspended solids or contaminants. These changes can disrupt operations and affect product quality. Our mobile treatment systems provide flexible, rapid solutions to treat these variable water qualities and ensure continuous, reliable operation. Additionally, we offer effective treatment for wastewater and water reuse applications, helping companies maximize their water resources under challenging conditions.

Why go mobile?

Mobile Water Solutions offers a flexible, efficient, and reliable approach to water treatment and water reuse, helping industries tackle both temporary and long-term water scarcity challenges.

For industries just beginning their sustainable water management journey, mobile assets provide an ideal starting point. Instead of immediately investing in permanent infrastructure, which can be costly and complex, companies can launch pilot projects using mobile systems funded through operational budgets. This pay-as-you-go model allows plant operators to test different technologies under real-world conditions, compare performance, and adapt quickly – without the financial risk of large capital expenditure.

Facilities with existing treatment infrastructure can also benefit from mobile support during:

• Planned maintenance or refurbishment
• Unexpected breakdowns or emergency events
• Seasonal demand increases
• Temporary water source changes or contamination events

In many regions, water scarcity is a seasonal or intermittent issue. Installing permanent treatment capacity for short periods of high demand often isn’t economically justifiable. In such cases, mobile assets offer a cost-efficient, on-demand solution that can be deployed and demobilised quickly.

Another key advantage of mobile solutions is their ability to serve remote or hard-to-reach locations. In areas where access is limited – whether due to geography, lack of infrastructure, or emergency conditions – mobile systems can be rapidly deployed and operational in a matter of hours or days.

Your trusted partner for premium mobile water systems

With over 25 years of experience, Mobile Water Solutions is a trusted partner across a wide range of industries – from oil and gas, power generation, and mining to food and beverage and more. Our mobile treatment units are pre-packaged on trailers, skids, or containers for maximum mobility and rapid setup. They can treat anywhere from 1 to 1,000 cubic meters per hour of process water, wastewater, or water for reuse, using advanced technologies such as ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, deionisation, clarification, softening, and many others.

Water scarcity is no longer a distant concern. It is a present-day challenge affecting industries, communities, and ecosystems around the world. But with the right strategies and technologies, your plant can be part of the solution. From reducing freshwater use to adopting water reuse and treatment systems, every step toward smarter water management makes a measurable difference.

If you’re ready to explore how Mobile Water Solutions can support your operations – whether through pilot projects, emergency support, or sustainable water management strategy – now is the time to act.

Not sure where to start? Our team is here to help assess your needs and tailor a solution that works for your site, timeline, and budget. Contact us today to begin your journey toward water security.