Global water reserves keep shrinking, WMO warns of mounting risks
The World Meteorological Organization reports a steady decline in terrestrial water storage since the mid-2010s, highlighting worsening droughts and glacier loss.
According to the WMO’s State of Global Water Resources 2025, the planet’s land water storage has been on a downward trajectory for years, eroding the natural buffer that once mitigated drought impacts. Celeste Saulo points out that rapid components of the water cycle, such as rainfall and river flow, are contrasted by slower reservoirs like groundwater, glaciers and seasonal snow, which are now depleting. Groundwater observations reveal that nearly two-thirds of monitored wells recorded conditions outside historical ranges.
The report links the decline to an increase in water-related disasters, especially in Asia and Africa, which together represent a substantial portion of recorded extreme events and associated deaths over the past five years. Additionally, the number of regions experiencing “normal” precipitation has fallen for the seventh consecutive year, underscoring growing climate volatility.
How this was covered
- The two sides describe this in almost entirely different words
- Coverage peaked at 8 outlets in a single hour
Why it matters
Declining water reserves threaten food security, livelihoods and increase disaster risk worldwide.
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