Water Scarcity
Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage in a given area, whether due to insufficient precipitation (physical scarcity) or lack of infrastructure to access available water (economic scarcity). It persists even if water-related crises are managed.
Real World
Sub-Saharan Africa illustrates economic scarcity: the Congo River carries more water than any other river outside the Amazon, yet millions nearby lack safe water access because infrastructure investment is absent.
Exam Focus
Always specify whether scarcity is physical or economic — 'assess' questions require you to weigh both types with located evidence.
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