yes it is true Salme..........best example is the Indus water war between India & Pakistan.Go through the Indus water treaty 1960.Western Himalayan Glaciers are retreating at the fast rate due to climate change & it is affecting the water flow in the river Indus on which the irrigation system of Pakistan depends........

Yes, It is true. Not only trans-boundary water, but also territorial water resources are becoming flash points of conflict. Drivers of it being that freshwater is no more a recycle or recoverable resource, if it is polluted beyond limits of recovery it becomes exhaustible. In the same way, excessive exploitation ("developed" in governmental parlance) of groundwater, causes salinity of water and geochemistry of the aquifers may be affected. Intensity of carcinogenic effect of arsenic contamination of water after large-scale installation of tube-wells. Climate change, at present in the form of extreme hydrological events, is supposed after down scaling climate change model at basin level to dry up northern basins of Indian Subcontinent. However, southern Sahara and temperate region may gain in rainfall. Another driver is increasing demand of water in industrial, agricultural and household (drinking and sanitation) sectors. All these create a scenario of water stress, water scarcity and conflicts within a country and between neighboring countries on sharing water resources. Naturally, if this simulation is proved true, not only socioeconomic development but political stability also is threatened.

Thank you! Do you happen to have a reference for the statement. It is becuse I plan to write an application concerning the issue. I would appreciate very much.

I think it depends entirely on the context and place you are working in. Some regions have a lot of water and very little energy (think the DRC) due to the lack of infrastructure. Other regions have very little water, but because they have a lot of energy resources and access to technology, water is not a limiting factor of their development (think Saudi Arabia). Socio-economic development may be hindered by many causes, including history, politics, culture, geographical location, education rates. Thus although you can make the statement, it must be made within a particular context. Once you know where/when you are making the argument, finding references/citations will be much easier.

Molly, In developing nations people cannot even dream of such technology. you are talking at regional level but global scenario is entirely different.

I think resources are defined in terms of cultural acceptance, technological feasibility and economic viability. If a cheap technology is available to turn sea water into potable and irrigation water with accruing profits to farmers, then of course there is no water scarcity, I take back my words as sweeping thoughtless generalisation.

The US intelligence community recently published an increasing study on the issue: http://www.dni.gov/nic/ICA_Global%20Water%20Security.pdf

Dear Molly,

Perhaps you are not aware of water conflict between Saudi Arabia and Dubai which is some time ago resolved. This was tranboundary aquifer between Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Same is the case of transboundary surface and groundwater in Iraq.