Map Summary: National Geographic’s interactive map called the World Water Map tells the story of how human water use impacts the global water cycle. Based on hydrological models made by Utrecht University and built using Esri’s GIS technology, the World Water Map illuminates where and why human water consumption has soared – so much so that people in many regions are using more water than the rivers and groundwater can sustain.

By using water to irrigate crops, to operate factories and power plants, or for household needs, people in some areas of the world are using more water than the water cycle can provide. With the human population on the rise and facing climate change, depleting the earth’s water resources will increasingly threaten the health of people, wildlife, and ecosystems.

But human water consumption can change. By mapping the world’s water shortages and visualizing the gaps between water supply and demand, we can more specifically understand how to change policy and behavior to more effectively sustain this natural resource.

Map Location: Worldwide. Learners can type a location into the World Water Map to zoom in on the status of a particular area’s water resources. The map illuminates hotspots around the world where people’s demand for water far exceeds renewable water availability.

National Geographic Explorer: National Geographic Explorer and hydrology professor Marc Bierkins developed the global model that is the basis for the information in the World Water Map, alongside Niko Wanders, Bram Droppers, Myrthe Leijnse, and the rest of Bierkins’ team at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

The map is enhanced with stories from additional National Geographic Explorers who are documenting freshwater challenges in their communities, such as:

• Explorer and scientist Adjany Costa, collecting plants and water samples near Cubango, Angola
• Explorer and biologist/science communicator Prasenjeet Yadav, sharing stories of Western Ghats, India

Explorer's Questions/Goals:

Are there areas of the world where water usage is exceeding renewable supply? Will enough water be available in the future for a growing population in the face of climate change, urban development, and other stressors? Where and why are water shortages occurring? How can we better manage water resources moving forward?

Data Collected: The information collected by Bierkins and his team includes more than 40 years of historical data. The model calculates the available surface and groundwater in an area from data on weather, soil, and vegetation, as well as domestic, industrial, and agricultural water usage, the three key drivers of water demand. The team will continue to update the model with new data.