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water scarcity: Quick Facts

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James Talarico Targets Data Centers Over Texas Energy Bills, Water Crisis • Oct. 15, 2026, 10:00 AM ET (Newsweek)

Photos and Videos

The Los Angeles River flows through a wide concrete channel with only small pools of water and exposed sandy bottom, surrounded by suburban homes and trees under a blue sky.
Infographic explaining water scarcity, showing that most of Earth's water is salt water and only a small fraction is accessible freshwater. It highlights types of scarcity, major cities at risk, key global risks, and challenges such as inefficient irrigation, water pollution, population growth, and climate change. Solutions listed include conserving water, restoring ecosystems, investing in infrastructure, and addressing global warming.
Mexico City
Aral Sea
World map displaying projected water stress levels by country for the year 2040, using color shading from light yellow for low stress to dark brown for extremely high stress. The map highlights that countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of South and Central Asia are expected to experience the highest levels of water stress, while much of North America, Europe, and parts of Asia and Africa are projected to have lower stress. A legend in the lower left explains the color categories
wetlands
The decline and partial recovery of the Aral Sea
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