Global problems of water resources scarcity

Summary The problem of water scarcity on the planet due to geographical (mismatch between fresh water demand and availability) and socio-economic (growing world population, improving living standards, changing consumption patterns and increasing irrigated land areas) factors is investigated. Methods for assessing water scarcity are considered. The state of water resources in Ukraine was assessed using the water stress indicator. A comparison is made with other countries of the world that are in approximately the same conditions in terms of the amount of water resources per person (Germany, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, and the Republic of Korea). Attention is drawn to alternative sources of water (desalinated water, recovered wastewater, gray water, collected rainwater, etc.).