More than five billion people could suffer water shortages by 2050, as a vicious combination of climate change, increased demand and wasteful inefficiencies plunge the world’s water supply under threat. The Telegraph investigates what can be done to prevent future crises.

8 AUGUST 2018 • 12:43 PM BST

Michael Burry came to fame by betting against the housing bubble. By being one of a select few who foresaw the crash of 2008, he ended up with hundreds of millions of dollars.

So astounding is his story that he was featured in the film The Big Short. The film ends with a simple description of his next investment: "Michael Burry is focusing all of his trading on one commodity: water."

Our first reaction to hearing that water could be so valuable is shock. After all, many of us can simply turn a tap on in the next minute and let water pour out of it. But forecasts shows that water will not be such an abundant resource in future.

By 2050, more than five billion people could suffer water shortages as a vicious combination of climate change, increased demand and wasteful inefficiencies place the world's water supply under threat.

The United Nations has warned that just seven years from now, there will be 1.8 billion people experiencing absolute water scarcity, where the natural water resources are unable to supply demand. Two thirds of the world will be water-stressed enough to see demands exceed supply for certain periods of the year.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/cities-in-the-face-of-drought/