waterstressed

Waterstressed, sometimes written as water-stressed, is a descriptor used to characterize regions where freshwater resources are under sustained pressure. It is typically invoked to indicate that the available renewable water supply is insufficient to meet demand from domestic use, agriculture, energy, and industry, or that supply is highly variable due to seasonal cycles or climate change. The term is used in policy, planning, and scientific assessments to signal elevated risk of water shortages and competing demands, rather than to declare absolute scarcity.

Measures vary by organization. A common approach is per capita renewable freshwater availability: below about 1,700 cubic meters per person per year is labeled water-stressed, and below 1,000 m3/year is considered water-scarce, according to the Falkenmark indicator. Another framework assesses the share of renewable supply withdrawn for human use, or computes composite water-stress indices such as those used by the World Resources Institute. These metrics can be computed for countries, regions, or basins and are sensitive to data quality and the considered time frame.

Impacts and drivers. Regions categorized as water-stressed experience higher competition for water, risks to agricultural production, notable economic costs, increased groundwater depletion, and heightened vulnerability to droughts. Climate change, population growth, urbanization, and infrastructure limits intensify water stress in many areas.

Notes. Because definitions and thresholds differ, the term is a descriptive tool rather than a single universal standard. It is used to frame policy responses such as water-use efficiency, demand management, infrastructure investments, and transboundary cooperation.