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Image: ARIF ALI/AFP

Water

Necessary for life, water is a finite resource. The depletion of freshwater can risk water security, endanger ecosystems and even fuel conflict. As part of World Water Week 2025, DW looks at the global state of H2O.

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All Content on this topic

Spanien Entsalzungsanlage Meerwasser

How does a desalination plant work?

Our viewer question this time comes from Richard Z. in Colombia.
ScienceDecember 18, 202402:15 min
Abdullahi Mohamud, a camel herder in Kenya, is seen in front of his camels as he speaks to DW

Desertification drives Kenyan herdsmen to camels

Climate change has degraded 75% of the Earth's land, the UN warns. Kenyan herders are already trading cattle for camels.
ClimateDecember 13, 202402:57 min
Delegates attending the COP16 summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

UN COP16 summit tackles forced migration and insecurity

Desertification, land degradation and drought are worsening forced migration and threatening global stability.
Nature and EnvironmentDecember 10, 2024
DW Dokumentationen | Blutige Flossen

Bloody waters — the predatory trade in sharks

Europe is the largest exporter of shark meat and fins - in an industry worth several billion euros per year.
PoliticsDecember 9, 202428:34 min
A dirt track of deforested land leading to further vast areas without trees

EU agrees to delay deforestation law but won't water it down

Environmental NGOs and scientists warn that delaying the law to appease industry will threaten forests and the climate.
Nature and EnvironmentDecember 5, 2024
Spain | Olive tree

Olive theft sparks anger among Spanish farmers

Farmer Antonio Basa guards his olive grove nightly as rising olive oil prices attract professional fruit thieves.
BusinessDecember 2, 202428:34 min
A Kashmiri man in Srinagar selling traditional rose water

Kashmir's rose water is a centuries-old secret recipe

An ancient rose water distillery is a living monument to a Kashmiri tradition producing the aromatic fragrance by hand.
SocietyNovember 28, 202404:07 min
DW AfricaLink

Why Malawi's Central region is grappling with a water crisis

DW's Josey Mahachi speaks to Chandiwira Chisi of Water Environment and Sanitation Network and DW's George Mhango.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 28, 202426:02 min
Picture of a shiny lunar rock exhibited at the Kennedy Space Center

How lunar rocks have shaped what we know about the moon

Moon missions are in planning, with stations not far behind. What can samples from its surface tell us?
ScienceNovember 27, 202414:52 min
A woman hands out freshly filtered drinking water from a water dispenser in colorful cups to her pupils in Cameroon.

How communities in Cameroon use sand to clean their water

An initiative is helping to clean up drinking water in Cameroon with sand and ceramic filters.
Food SecurityNovember 27, 202404:08 min
DW Eco Africa (Sendungslogo Composite)

How simple solutions are sometimes best | Eco Africa

How filters could clean up Cameroon's drinking water. Plus, using Indigenous medicines to treat Ghana's livestock.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 21, 202426:04 min
In a greenhouse, rows of plants grow in specially built water channels

Hydroponics could help feed us in the future

By saving up to 90% of water used by conventional farming, hydroponics could improve food security.
Food SecurityNovember 20, 202405:02 min
A woman holding a glass of water

Facts on fluoride in water, salt and toothpaste

Should fluoride be removed from tap water and toothpaste? Believe it or not, this is a hot topic in US politics.
ScienceNovember 19, 2024
DW Eco India (Sendungslogo Composite)

Advocates of change | Eco India

Climate influencers try to change Indians' behavior; how fox nuts might help Bihar farmers offset flood losses.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 14, 202426:04 min
Environmental activists in Memphis, Tennessee

Elon Musk's AI factory causes controversy

Elon Musk wants to bring the most powerful AI onto the market. But there is opposition to xAI.
BusinessNovember 13, 202408:07 min
Waterfall

Learning from Singapore: A water smart city

Singapore is a country with no natural water resources. But it’s expert at dealing with water when it becomes scarce.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 11, 202409:04 min
Indien 2024 | EcoIndia Show | Tanneries

Tanneries seek to reduce their environmental impact

The leather industry in Uttar Pradesh is aiming to reduce use of chemicals and water consumption.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 11, 202406:09 min
The "Global Us" show logo is seen between a male head with curly hair (bottom) and a female head (top, pictured upside down) blowing up a blue balloon

From water scarcity to dementia — Global Us

Singapore as a role model for the use of water as a resource. How racist is the country music scene in the USA?
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 8, 202426:04 min
Videostill | Tomorrow Today | Schwimmblase

Why don't fish sink in water?

Why don't fish sink in water? This Tomorrow Today viewer question comes from Sante K. in Zambia.
ScienceNovember 8, 202402:26 min
DW Eco India (Sendungslogo Composite)

The path to a cleaner future | Eco India

Tanneries seek to reduce their environmental footprint; switching to solar power in the Himalayas.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 7, 202426:04 min
man with a face mask on his morning run in New Delhi

India's capital Delhi battles 'eyes-watering' pollution

India's capital topped pollution charts a day after fireworks were set off to celebrate Diwali.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 2, 202401:39 min
Dunes and trees covered by floodwaters, after rare rainfall hit the Sahara in September

Flooding in Morocco turns Sahara Desert into a lake

In September heavy rain caused lakes to form in the Sahara desert. The water is both a blessing and a curse.
Nature and EnvironmentOctober 28, 20248 images
People make their way through the tunnel after a ceremony ahead of the opening of the century-old Tunnel as a new tourist attraction at at the Niagara Parks Power Station in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Niagara Falls fascinates with thundering water

Niagara Falls, a natural wonder that graces the border between Canada and the US, draws millions of visitors every year.
Nature and EnvironmentOctober 27, 20248 images
Flooded homes in a community in Nigeria's Kogi State.

Flood situation continues to deteriorate in Nigeria

The UN has warned of a growing disaster in Nigeria, where flooding has already affected more than 1.2 million people.
CatastropheOctober 18, 202401:39 min
DW The 77 Percent: Spannungen um den Nil

Upstream Nile nations challenge Egypt's historical dominance

Uganda, Ethiopia and eight other countries oppose Egypt and Sudan's dominance over the Nile River.
SocietyOctober 17, 202401:59 min
DW "Eco Africa" Sendungslogo mit Partnerlogos (Composite)

Eco Africa: Brain drain and ancient agroforestry

Tackling brain drain, ancient techniques for agroforestry, and improving water quality as a community.
Nature and EnvironmentOctober 17, 202426:04 min
Two J-15 fighter jets prepare to take off from China's aircraft carrier, The Liaoning, followed by destroyers and frigates during a naval exercise in the western Pacific, on April 18 2018

Chinese aircraft carrier detected near Taiwan waters

The sighting came hours after the Chinese military put out a video saying it was "prepared for battle."
PoliticsOctober 13, 2024
A woman holds a water test in her right hand on the bank of a river in South Africa.

Locals become data gatherers to improve South Africa's water

Citizens are being equipped with water testing kits to gather data for scientific research.
Food SecurityOctober 11, 202402:39 min
DW Sendung Tomorrow Today | Dürre im Amazonas

Brazil: Drought threatens Amazon communities and ecosystem

The Amazon basin has been facing severe drought, leaving communities cut off and the regional ecosystem in jeopardy.
ScienceOctober 11, 202406:38 min
A pile of electronic waste

Malawi: Building water pumps from electronic waste

In Malawi, one young man is using electronic waste to create cost-effective water pumps for farmers.
Nature and EnvironmentOctober 10, 202404:32 min
A view of river dwellers walking on the dry bed of the Solimoes River, in the Pesqueiro Community, in Manacapuru, Amazonas state, northern Brazil

Water levels hit record lows in Amazon region

Officials have warned that water levels in the Amazon could decline further in the coming weeks due to a severe drought.
Nature and EnvironmentOctober 5, 202401:59 min
DW "Eco Africa" Sendungslogo mit Partnerlogos (Composite)

Eco Africa: Sustainable shellfish | An all-female gem mine

Sustainable shellfish, an all-female gem mine and how solar power minigrids can change lives.
Nature and EnvironmentOctober 3, 202426:04 min
Singapore skyline with green parks and futuristic buildings

How Singapore got a grip on water scarcity

Water has influenced conflict and the economy in Singapore. Now the country leads the way in managing a scarce resource.
Nature and EnvironmentOctober 1, 2024
Screenshot 77percent

How women are solving Ghana's water hyacinth scourge

Women in Ghana are turning invasive water hyacinths into stunning sustainable clothing and household products.
SocietySeptember 25, 202404:43 min
DW Grafik Singapur

How Singapore is going from water rags to riches

In Singapore, water scarcity has long been an issue. Now, the country is showing the world how to handle water scarcity.
TechnologySeptember 25, 202412:46 min
DW Tomorrow Today show logo

Tomorrow Today — The Science Show

We all need water to live, but it’s not available everywhere in equal amounts. Can we learn to use it more carefully?
ScienceSeptember 20, 202426:04 min
Stills aus der DW-Sendung "Sendung: Sports Life" Portrait der Surferin Heidi Ulrich

Heidi Ulrich — the fastest woman on a surfboard

Sports Life follows Heidi Ulrich on her next speed surfing world record attempt.
SportsSeptember 20, 202412:36 min
A woman wades through waters with her bike in Vietnam

Vietnam: Water levels still high after Typhoon Yagi

The death toll in the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi reached almost 200, with dozens reported missing.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 12, 2024
Banquet setup at resort in Sardinia, Italy

How Sardinia became a model for sustainable tourism

The Italian island of Sardinia has figured out how to make mass tourism work for both the industry and local community.
BusinessSeptember 11, 202407:53 min
Tourists disembark a ferry on the island of Naxos

Greece's water shortages spare tourists, leave farmers dry

Greek islands like Naxos are facing water shortages. Desalination plants can help tourists, but not local farmers.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 9, 202403:32 min
A sketch of Tenochtitlán

Historic megacity — the legendary Aztec capital

Thanks to new technology, researchers are drawing an increasingly precise picture of Tenochtitlán.
ScienceSeptember 5, 202407:50 min
Cranes stand at the construction site located near the Presidential Palace in the new capital city of Nusantara

Nusantara: Indonesia's green dream or ecological nightmare?

DW examines the new capital's impact on the Indigenous Balik tribe's ancestral homeland.
Nature and EnvironmentSeptember 3, 2024
Two children insert an ID tag into a metal pump to get water from a well in central Uganda

Using climate-smart tech to access safe drinking water

A digital tag and a water-purifying jerrycan are improving Ugandans' access to safe drinking water.
InnovationSeptember 3, 202405:33 min
A view of the Pont du Carrousel bridge by the River Seine, Paris, France, on July 26, 2024

Paralympic triathlons delayed over Seine water quality

Eleven para-triathlon races were to take place but were postponed after heavy rain spiked pollution levels in the river.
SportsSeptember 1, 2024
A gray-haired man looks into a well

Greek islands fighting water shortages with desalination

Greek islands like Naxos are facing water shortages. While desalination plants help, they are only part of the solution.
ClimateAugust 30, 2024
A water tap.

Half the world lacks access to safe drinking water

Less than half of people around the world have access to safe drinking water.
HealthAugust 30, 2024
Italien Sardinien | Cala dei Gabbiani

Sardinia's sustainable tourism model defies overcrowding

One small island has figured out how to make mass tourism work for the industry and local community.
BusinessAugust 26, 202403:34 min
A sign with two hands holding a glass. A drop of water is dripping into the glass

What is groundwater?

Groundwater is everywhere, but how important is it for us?
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 26, 2024
Dead fish in the Oder river in Poland 2022

Can Poland save the Oder River from toxic algae blooms?

Two years after a dramatic fish die off in the Oder river, Poland is again battling algae blooms with hydrogen peroxide.
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 22, 2024
DW Podcast | Science Unscripted

Underground oceans on Mars?

A recent discovery of huge resevoirs of water also has huge implications for whether life is feasible on Mars.
ScienceAugust 18, 202430:00 min