Water, vital for life, faces increasing demand with global population growth
According to UNICEF, four billion people — almost two thirds of the world’s population — experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year, and some 700 million people could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030.
The global water and sanitation crisis can be solved within our lifetimes, but we must act now.
Long-term, consistent water conservation efforts must lay the foundation for innovative strategies to safeguard drinking water and provide basic services to growing populations. We must prioritize protecting every drop of water, and modern water conservation codes and standards are leading the charge.
Standards Save:
A Water Conservation Summit
Updated Start Time: Thursday, March 21, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. ET
National Press Club
529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045
Join the International Code Council and water experts at the National Press Club for “Standards Save: A Water Conservation Summit”. The Code Council will release findings of a new University of Miami study examining the critical need for the rapid adoption of modern, updated water conservation standards
An estimated
1.42 Billion People
including 450 million children –
live in areas of high or extremely
high water vulnerability
UNICEF – Water Security For All
By 2050, the number of people facing inadequate access to water is projected to increase to more than
5 BILLION PEOPLE
UN World Meteorological Organization – State of Global Water Resources 2022
U.S. water scarcity is
projected to increase
significantly.
Over the next 50 years, roughly half of U.S. freshwater basins will be at risk of falling short of their monthly water demands – predominantly in the American West.
Source: Earth's Future – Adaptation to Future Water Shortages in the United States Caused by Population Growth and Climate Change
2+ Million Americans
More than 2 million Americans lack access to modern water services, such as indoor plumbing and flushing toilets.
Source DigDeep – Closing the Water Access Gap in the United States
Water conservation codes represent one of the fastest, most efficient ways to address our growing water crisis.
Information and resources are available to accelerate adoption of modern building codes and standards and guide decision-makers in managing finite resources nationally and globally.
Water Conservation Codes and Standards at Work
The International Code Council (ICC) develops and publishes a set of codes and standards that are widely adopted and used in the construction and design of buildings and structures. The Code Council’s codes and standards play a crucial role in shaping construction practices, including those related to water efficiency, conservation and safety.
