Will there be enough water in the future? Interactive world map reveals how scarce resources could become as overpopulation and climate change destroy planet Earth

• Water is essential for life but is also a key component in several commercial processes  
• Agriculture and the manufacture of apparel and chemicals are some of the thirstiest industries  
• Climate change is also causing many regions around the world to frequently experience severe drought
• An interactive map now allows people to see the areas where people live in water scarcity, water stress and water shortage

An interactive map developed by Aalto University has mapped the shocking water shortage the world currently faces.  

The availability of clean water is a challenge the world currently faces as climate change and thirsty commercial processes make it scarce in certain regions.  

Agriculture, apparel manufacturers and chemical production all require enormous amounts of water and climate change has also made extreme drought become more commonplace.

The average person in Europe now uses 3,000 to 5,000 litres of water per day, researchers claim.

+3

An interactive map (pictured) from Aalto University now allows people to track the areas where people live in water scarcity, water stress and water shortage

In the last year, droughts and water shortages have affected Great Britain, South Africa and Australia as well as vast swathes of Africa and central Asia.  

The situation in South Africa became so dire that a marine salvage expert was trying to secure funding to bring an enormous iceberg to Cape Town to provide clean drinking water to its parched residents. 

Water resources are becoming an even more pressing for future years as populations continue to grow and climate change worsens.  

The Water Scarcity Atlas is a web application created by Postdoctoral Researcher Joseph Guillaume and Assistant Professor Matti Kummu at Aalto University and uses interactive global maps to show the problems that arise with limited water and provides information on how to fight it. 

The map allows people to track the areas where people live in water scarcity, water stress and water shortage.

Water stress can be thought of as demand-driven scarcity, while water shortage is population-driven. Stress can occur even with a small population if water use is sufficiently high and water availability sufficiently low. 

'Choices that consumers make here in the North have an effect on the other side of the world. Understanding water scarcity and the impact of your actions is the first step to shaping the future,' explains Dr Guillaume.

'We wanted to create a capacity building tool so that people can better understand what makes their choices sustainable or not.' 

+3

The average person in Europe now uses 3,000−5,000 litres of water per day, researchers claim. Agriculture, textile manufacturing and the chemical industry require enormous amounts of water and climate change has seen extreme drought become more commonplace

+3

The map allows people to track the areas where people live in water scarcity, water stress and water shortage. Water stress can be thought of as demand-driven scarcity, while water shortage is population-driven. Stress can occur even with a small population if water use is sufficiently high and water availability sufficiently low

The tool visualises how water scarcity has evolved over the past 100 years and presents potential scenarios for the rest of this century. 

It also allows people to see how different factors, such as changes in diet and food losses, affect water resources all over the world.

'As water use increases, it becomes more difficult to access the resource sustainably. Eating less meat and avoiding food waste can reduce water use,' says Dr Guillaume.

'We need to support initiatives by governments, NGOs, and companies with water stewardship programmes. 

'It's hard to strike a balance between environmental and human needs, especially when there isn't enough water to go around. 

'We can work together to help farmers and other water users adopt new techniques, and establish effective management arrangements.' 

 HOW MUCH WATER DO WE USE? 

Agriculture, textile manufacturing and the chemical industry require enormous amounts of water.

Apparel  

The apparel industry is a major consumer of water as it is integral in the manufacture of many products. 

Denim is one of the worst offending products as water is needed to die the fabric in the desired colour. Indigo coloured jeans are the worst by this metric. 

Levi Strauss, a leader in the sector at trying to reduce unnecessary water consumption, conducted a life-cycle assessment on their iconic 501 jeans. 

They found that one pair of jeans uses 3,781 litres of water in its lifetime – from growing cotton, manufacturing, consumer care and end of life disposal.

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) was setup by Levi's in 2005 to make the use of water in the industry more efficient as well as improving labour standards and increasing the economic livelihood for farmers. 

BCI farmers use up to 18 per cent less water than non-BCI farmers and, by 2020, othe firm's goal is to use 100 per cent sustainable cotton to significantly reduce our total water footprint.

Water 

A report from 2017 found that the manufacture of chemicals and chemical products is the largest sub-sector in terms of volume for water usage in the UK. 

This sector accounts for over one-half of the total volume directly abstracted by the manufacturing sector for consumptive uses.

Another significant sub-sector was the ‘Manufacture of paper and paper products’. 

In total, these two sub-sectors accounted for approximately 70 per cent of the total volume directly abstracted for consumptive use by the manufacturing sector in England.

In a table showing the estimated volume of water from non-tidal sources in England and Wales the upper limit for the 'manufacture of chemicals and chemical products' was 228,427 million litres. 

Farming  

Farming accounts for around 70 per cent of water used in the world today and also contributes to water pollution from excess nutrients, pesticides and other pollutants. 

It is used to help and advance the growing of arable crops as well as fallow land. 

The cotton industry is incredibly thirsty and improper Soviet irrigation has caused the  Aral Sea to shrink drastically, destroying local towns and ecosystems.  

Solar-powered yacht capable of sailing around the world without stopping to refuel is unveiled by Swiss designers 

• The electric SolarImpact yacht is topped with enough solar panels to cover a full-size tennis court
• This vast array of renewable generators can serve as the vessel's sole power source when conditions allow
• The 78-foot (24-metre) boat will be able to sleep ten people, including accommodation for a small crew

A futuristic, solar-powered yacht which can cruise the globe without stopping to refuel has been unveiled by its  Swiss designers.

The electric SolarImpact yacht is longer than a blue whale and topped with enough solar panels to cover a regulation-size tennis court.

The boat sleeps ten people, on top of accommodation for the small crew, and is loaded with artificial intelligence that allows it to be driven by a single person.

Pictured is an artist's impression of the all-electric SolarImpact yacht. The solar-powered yacht can cruise the entire globe without stopping to refuel

SOLARIMPACT YACHT STATS 

Length: 78ft (24m)

Battery: 800-kWh providing 10 hours of cruising

Top speed: 22 knots (25 miles/40km per hour)

Accommodates: Ten guests plus a small crew 

Solar panel coverage: 3,200 square feet (300 sq m) on the roof

Price and release date: Unknown 

The yacht is the result of five years of research by Zurich firm SolarImpact Yacht AG, which has not revealed an expected price or release date for its design.

The company claims using solar panels to power the craft cuts a significant amount of the noise generated by traditional engines.

An 800-kWh battery on board provides around 10 hours of cruising capability, which can be extended by topping up the battery from the sun during the trip.

The 78-foot (24-metre) yacht has more than 3,200 square feet (300 sq m) of solar panels on its roof, which can serve as the vessel's sole power source if conditions allow.

If sailing on a cloudier day, the vessel is loaded with a pair of 65-kW (87-hp) diesel engines on board as a backup.

It also boasts two torpedo-shaped buoyancy bodies beneath the water surface which SolarImpact Yacht AG claims to reduce the rolling and heeling of the yacht by up to 90 per cent in choppy conditions.

+7

The electric SolarImpact yacht is longer than a blue whale, and its roof is topped with enough solar panels to cover a full-sized tennis court (artist's impression)

+7

Pictured is an artist's impression of the SolarImpact yacht's steering wheel and control panel. The boat has enough beds for ten people, including accommodation for a small crew. It is loaded with artificial intelligence that allows it to be driven by one person

The boat features beds for ten people across four double rooms and a master suite, and is also equipped with crew accommodation.

The concept was unveiled at last week's Cannes Yachting Festival where a full 3D-model allowed potential buyers the chance to explore the vessel using virtual reality.

It is not the first futuristic yacht design unveiled this week.

+7

The yacht is the result of five years of research by created by Zurich firm SolarImpact Yacht AG, which has not revealed an expected price or release date for its design

+7

The yacht has more than 3,200 square feet (300 sq m) of solar panels on its roof, which can serve as the vessel's sole power source if conditions allow. If sailing on a cloudier day, the vessel is loaded with a pair of 65-kW (87-hp) diesel engines on board as a backup

A team of British engineers on Monday released designs for a £40 million ($52 million) eco-yacht that collects plastic from the ocean and recycles it.

The 'Ocean Saviour' is designed to scoop up a staggering five tonnes of plastic pollution each day and will become the first vessel ever to power itself by recycling ocean waste into fuel.

Plastic will be chopped finely, milled and processed through onboard machinery which will destroy it completely with minimal atmospheric pollution. 

+7

Designs for a £40 million ($52 million) new eco-yacht were also unveiled this week. The Ocean Saviour (artist's impression) will collect plastic from the ocean and recycle it as it sails. It features two plastic-capturing arms that funnel waste into a conveyor belt through an opening in the boat's hull

Described as 'the combine harvester of the seas', it has been designed with two booms on either side of the 70 metre-long (230ft) vessel which will funnel floating pollution into a conveyor.

The pioneering plans, revealed today at Southampton Boat Show, lay out how this will then bring the ocean waste onboard the Ocean Saviour, where it will be recycled using a high tech process.

The finely-chopped product will then be used to fuel the vessel, meaning it can power itself for months on end.

Richard Roberts, of Southampton-based TheYachtMarket, is the project's co-founder and said he was inspired to create the ship after watching Blue Planet.

+7

The 'Ocean Saviour' is designed to scoop up a staggering five tonnes of plastic pollution each day and will become the first vessel ever to power itself by recycling ocean waste into fuel. Pictured is an artist's impression of the conveyor belt through which the vessel picks up plastic pollution

He said the show's shocking portrayal of waste in the oceans encouraged him 'to do something practical' about the problem.

'It's staggering to think there is currently over five trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean which is having a huge detrimental impact on our ecosystem and the ocean's biodiversity,' he said.

'It's essential we remove plastic before it breaks down into micro plastics and, through Ocean Saviour, we aim to help eradicate the ocean of this problem.

'They should be going up and down our coastlines all the time - they could be the combine harvesters of the seas.'

Superyacht boasts a helicopter landing spot and glass bottomed pool for beach-style parties

• The SVY Griggio 52-metre Supply Vessel was unveiled by Italian shipyard Rosetti Superyachts
• The yacht can sleep ten guests and in the master bedroom there is a walk-in closet and hammam 
• Along with the glass-bottomed pool, other amenities on the boat include a gym, sauna and steam bath 

A new concept superyacht boasts a glass bottomed pool, with a helicopter landing pad allowing visitors to zip in for a dip if they please.

The SVY Griggio 52-metre Supply Vessel, unveiled by Italian shipyard Rosetti Superyachts, boasts ample space to entertain.

The helicopter landing pad can be transformed into a large beach club-style area and there is a lounge located under the pool, with sunlight streaming through the glass structure. 

+9

A new concept superyacht boasts a glass bottomed pool, with a helicopter landing pad allowing visitors to zip in for a dip if they please

+9

The SVY Griggio 52-metre Supply Vessel, unveiled by Italian shipyard Rosetti Superyachts, boasts ample space to entertain

Particulars from Rosetti Superyachts note that the main sundeck 'provides a generous sunbathing area and comes complete with dining services, food lift from the galley and the option of a forward open-air cinema'.

ADVERTISING

There are more sundecks and relaxation areas on the upper levels, which further 'exploit the outside'.

Moving indoors, there is a main salon with a chaise longue extending the length of the room and two comfortable sofas. Neutral-coloured furnishings give the boat a light and airy feel.

Luxury touches include wood panelling, lengths of marble and polished brass detailing  

+9

On the main deck, there is the galley with dedicated access for the crew and a master stateroom. The swanky sea pad houses a walk-in wardrobe, a private study, a bathroom and its own hammam

+9

In the main salon there is a chaise longue extending the length of the room and two comfortable sofas

+9

Neutral-coloured furnishings give the boat a light and airy feel. Luxury touches include wood panelling, lengths of marble and polished brass detailing 

On the main deck, there is the galley with dedicated access for the crew and a master stateroom. 

The swanky sea pad houses a walk-in wardrobe, a private study, a bathroom and its own hammam.

On the yacht's lower deck, there is accommodation for eight guests in four cabins with double beds or twin singles.

In the front of the lower deck there are berths for the same number of crew, while the captain's cabin is on the upper deck next to the wheelhouse.

+9

A view of the dining area, complete with a modern metal screening and a marble-topped dining table 

+9

The helicopter landing pad can be transformed into a large beach club-style area and there is a lounge located under the pool, with sunlight streaming through the glass structure

Many of the rooms have been finished with large wrap-around windows, to maximise sea views.

Along with the glass-bottomed pool, other amenities on the boat include a gym, sauna and steam bath.

The yacht is currently in the concept stage and there is no word on if the designs will become a reality or what the build cost would be. 

Preliminary design specs state that the yacht would be powered by two 1080kW engines, achieving a cruising speed of 12 knots or 16 knots when it's at full pelt.  

+9

The yacht is currently in the concept stage and there is no word on if the designs will become a reality or what the build cost would be

+9

Preliminary design specs state that the yacht would be powered by two 1080kW engines, achieving a cruising speed of 12 knots or 16 knots when it's at full pelt