US Counties Face Water Shortage by 2050

More than 1,100 US counties across 48 states may face water risks and shortages by 2050 as a result of global warming, according to a report by US engineering group Tetra Tech and US environment advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The joint report says more than 400 counties will be at a high risk of water shortages.

The analysis says climate change will take a heavy toll on water supplies throughout the country with one out of three US counties facing greater risks of water shortages.

The report was prepared using publicly available data across the country and climate projection models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The report also says 14 states – Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas – will face extreme water risks by 2050.

The goal of the analysis is to identify US regions to assess potential water stress areas and identify solutions.