Water resources future issues and problems

From Mauldin Economics: Generally, when we read about water, the stories are about shortages or droughts. But there is good news on this front, too. We are using roughly the same amount of water in the US as we did back in 1970, but the population has grown by almost 50 %. We are producing vastly more food, generating more hydroelectric energy, and doing more of all the other things that can only be done with water. The chart below is from the USGS Water Science School. This is the trend all over the developed world: more efficient use and better conservation of water.