Of the total world water supply, less than 1% is fresh water. The actual usable / accessible water is less than 1/100th of that amount. Over the last century, demand for water has been growing quickly, with global population having tripled, and water usage increasing by six fold in the twentieth century.

As demand increases, pressure on water supplies is becoming more acute and is expected to intensify in the future. As many as one-third of all nations suffer from water stress and about one-half of the world’s major rivers are overly polluted or going dry from over consumption. In the U.S., scientists are concerned that the Colorado River basin, which supplies water to most people across the southwestern states and has been suffering a many-year drought, may never provide the water necessary to support the growing population. The U.S. General Accounting Office concludes that 36 States expect water shortages over the next 10 years under normal conditions, and 46 States expect water shortages under drought conditions. 

The growing thirst for water is driving demand for water and waste water technologies that can expand the total water supply available, eliminate water loss from distribution systems, and increase water recycling.