According to this article in New Scientist, a new survey of fresh water shows that world supplies are declining at a rate much faster than previously predicted. This study focused on water basins rather than a country by country approach and found that we are 20 years ahead of predicted levels for water loss.

The article has an upside however- the solution in many subsistence agricultural areas is relatively simple: Create systems for storing rainwater in anticipation of drought. As obvious as it sounds, many poor farmers have no means to store water. There are simple plastic inflatable basins similar to swimming pools that can help with storage issues at low costs.

The primary message of articles like this is that we can no longer treat fresh water as an inexhaustible resource. We need to conserve and plan for times when no water falls from the sky. Time to buy a rain barrel.