CBSE · Class 10 · Social Science · Geography: Water ResourcesWhat is water scarcity and what are its main causes according to the chapter Water Resources?

Water scarcity simply refers to the shortage of water as compared to the demand for water in a particular region. According to the chapter on Water Resources, the main causes of water scarcity include the growing population leading to greater demands for domestic use and to produce more food, intensive agricultural practices involving the over-exploitation of water resources, unequal access to water among different social groups, and industrialization which requires enormous amounts of water and often pollutes existing freshwater sources through untreated effluents. Furthermore, urbanization has led to over-utilization of water resources and depletion of groundwater levels.