Explained | World's Water Crisis | FULL EPISODE | Netflix

Access to abundant water is often taken for granted, but many major cities, like Cape Town, are facing 'Day Zero' – when taps run dry due to severe drought. Other cities globally are also at risk. By 2040, most countries may not have enough water to meet demand, highlighting a worsening global water crisis.

Despite Earth being a 'blue planet' with vast amounts of water, only 1% is accessible freshwater. The availability of this crucial resource varies greatly by location. While groundwater is often available, it's expensive and difficult to access, and over-extraction, as seen in Mexico City, leads to land subsidence and depletion of aquifers.

Human water consumption has dramatically increased. Most water isn't used for direct drinking or hygiene but in agriculture and industry. The production of everyday items, especially meat, requires enormous amounts of water, a cost rarely reflected in their price. This leads to wasteful practices, like growing water-intensive crops in arid regions.

With water scarcity, investors are increasingly viewing water as 'liquid gold.' Companies like Constellation Brands are securing water rights for industrial use, often at the expense of local communities and agriculture. This commodification of water leads to conflicts and protests, as seen in Mexicali, Mexico.

Water scarcity is a growing cause of global conflicts, exemplified by situations in Nigeria and Darfur, and linked to the Syrian war. While desalination offers a solution to create freshwater, it's currently expensive and energy-intensive. Increasing water prices could encourage conservation and infrastructure repair, but raises concerns about access for the poor.

The UN recognized water access as a fundamental right. The challenge is to value water appropriately to protect this right while encouraging conservation. Philadelphia's income-based water pricing model is one approach. Cape Town's successful deferral of Day Zero through collective conservation efforts demonstrates the power of community action in addressing the water crisis.