Konflikty o malejące zasoby wody
Conflicts over the falling freshwater resources

Summary/Abstract: The world is incurring a large water deficit. Globally, demand for water has tripled over the last half century. With increasing trade between nations and continents, water is more frequently used to produce exported goods. This article discusses the various patterns of water use and points out at the possible consequences of water crisis and conflicts over the freshwater resources. At present, over seventy per cent of all water use is for irrigation, compared with 20% used by industry and 10% used for residential purposes. An increasing number of „water dependent” countries means that water scarcity has been not only local but global issue. There is a need to balance water supply and demand and to conduct sustainable water management policy worldwide. The other option is the risk of international conflict over water which in many regions of the world is real. Such conflicts are more probable between countries which rely heavily on the common, one source of freshwater (the case of Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and other East African countries which are dependent on the Nile River).

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