Against this background, the report takes an in-depth look at every major dimension of water use and management - from the growth of cities to the threat of looming water wars between countries. A single thread runs through each section: the water crisis - be it the number of children dying of disease or polluted rivers - is a crisis of governance and a lack of political will to manage the resource wisely.

“Globally, the challenge lies in raising the political will to implement water-related commitments”, says the report. “Water professionals need a better understanding of the broader social, economic and political context, while politicians need to be better informed about water resource issues. Otherwise, water will continue to be an area for political rhetoric and lofty promises instead of sorely needed actions”, it says.

With more than 25 world maps, numerous charts, graphs and seven case studies of major river basins, the report analyzes how diverse societies cope with water scarcity, including policies that work or don’t work. It lays the foundations - through the World Water Assessment Programme - for the United Nations to regularly monitor and report on the state of the resource by developing a set of standardized methodologies, data and indicators.