Water stress is where available water is significantly reduced compared to the normal and natural condition. Water stress occurs where available water is insufficient to meet the demands of humans and nature due to an abnormal condition. It occurs when excessive water withdrawals that are close to, or exceed, natural recharge. It can also occur due to climate impacts, either periodic drought or a long term decline in natural recharge.
A common measure is ‘baseline water stress’, defined as ‘the ratio of total water withdrawals to available renewable surface and groundwater supplies’. Water withdrawals include domestic, industrial, irrigation, and livestock consumptive and nonconsumptive uses.
