Many organisations predict that the global water crisis presents this century’s biggest threat. Today 84% of people in developing countries have access to clean water, 2 billion more than in 1990. However, millions still lack clean water for drinking and sanitation, posing a major health threat. In the developed world, water consumption is unsustainably high, doubling every twenty years. Agriculture accounts for 70% of the world’s fresh water use, and an increasing population to feed means this demand will only increase. Groundwater sources, used to irrigate crops, are running dry because of overuse. While limiting the use of groundwater is a possible solution, it would have a financial impact on farmers and result in lower yields. While climate change has resulted in increased precipitation in some areas, it is contributing to water shortages in other regions. Rising temperatures have caused the Himalayan glaciers, the source for all of Asia’s major rivers, to retreat. A reservoir for nearly half of the world’s fresh water, these glaciers are predicted to lose four-fifths of their area by 2040. The solution to the global water crisis lies predominantly in new technologies. Desalination plants, which convert seawater into fresh water, have now been built in countries including Israel and Singapore. The process’s high costs however limit its widespread adoption. Organising bodies and treaties are also needed to ensure that cross-border water sources are managed properly and do not become a source of conflict.