Half the World's 100 Largest Cities Are in High Water Stress Areas, Analysis Finds (theguardian.com)
- Reference: 0180639104
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/01/22/1749201/half-the-worlds-100-largest-cities-are-in-high-water-stress-areas-analysis-finds
- Source link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/22/half-world-100-largest-cities-in-high-water-stress-areas-analysis-finds
> Water stress means that water withdrawals for public water supply and industry are close to exceeding available supplies, often caused by poor management of water resources exacerbated by climate breakdown. Watershed Investigations and the Guardian mapped cities on to stressed catchments revealing that Beijing, New York, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro and Delhi are among those facing extreme stress, while London, Bangkok and Jakarta are classed as being highly stressed.
>
> Separate analysis of NASA satellite data, compiled by scientists at University College London, shows which of the largest 100 cities have been drying or getting wetter over two decades with places such as Chennai, Tehran and Zhengzhou showing strong drying trends and Tokyo, Lagos and Kampala showing strong wetting trends. All 100 cities and their trends can be viewed on a new interactive water security atlas.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/22/half-world-100-largest-cities-in-high-water-stress-areas-analysis-finds
Yeah sounds about right (Score:1)
Lots of people use lots of water. News at 11. I bet the world's 100 smallest cities are fine right?
stressed (Score:2)
"Stressed" sounds just about right; no more water than absolutely needed. Would the lefty-rag Guardian prefer unstressed urban water use by maladroit febs, felons, fools and freaks bathing nightly in roof-hi fire-hydrant flow ? Urban water use beyond the absolute minimum wastes reserves. That flow better left to forest drainage, productive farmers, brook trout and nature-trail framing.
It's almost like there's a causal relationship. (Score:2)
Like, millions of people in one place drink a lot of water.
This is the sort of garbage that is supposed to be taken as an indicator that the outlet publishing it is not worth your time. I just wish msmash and BeauHD had the sense to recognize that.
What are they saying? (Score:2)
Are they saying that we should dismantle Hoover dam?
Mexico City (Score:2)
Is the worst one I am aware of. [1]https://mexicocitywater.longle... [longlead.com] Serious shortages.
LA is looking at a medium term issue. Once the level of Lake Meade drops to the "critical" level drastic curtailment happens. Not sure exactly how long before that happens.
Another issue at least with Mexico City and Tokyo has been sinking due to underground water use. As to how much should an average urban dweller get is up for grabs. Here is a old study (pre gaza war) of what a Palestinian might get. (https://www.europarl
[1] https://mexicocitywater.longlead.com/
Re: (Score:2)
According to this [1]https://magazine.viterbi.usc.e... [usc.edu]
LA only gets 14% of its water from Colorado River (aka Lake Meade)
Most of their water is from in-state, routed from Northern California to So-Cal. Assuming California's population continues to level off, dip somewhat I think LA will be ok. Also worth mentioning the State is trying to add more reservoir capacity (https://sitesproject.org/) in a large empty field, just needs to get through the lawsuits:
“Sites will perpetuate California’s antiqu
[1] https://magazine.viterbi.usc.edu/spring-2025/features/three-straws-and-a-bathtub-waters-journey-to-los-angeles/
We have a lot of water... (Score:2)
We have a lot of water, but it's the wrong "type". Many of those major cities are near a coast, so how about building some desalination plants. What? That's too expensive? Then either stop using so much or stop complaining. (For example, maybe stop watering hay, alfalfa, etc with ground water in stressed areas and grow that stuff elsewhere that isn't so stressed; or build a large scale purification system to treat waste water and make it potable.) I know my view comes across as harsh, but we have a technica
Meanwhile while you've been worried about trans (Score:2, Troll)
Or woke or dei or violent video games or Penny dreadfuls or whatever the hell you're supposed to be freaking out about this time the billionaires have been quietly buying up water rights.
Now would be a good time to work on critical thinking and stop getting distracted
Re: (Score:2)
Aren't you compartmentalizing your concerns so that you aren't worrying about some other municipality's resource management? Look how distracted you have become by things you have no influence over. While the things you do have influence over are being disassembled while you worry about someone else's problems.