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As many as 5 billion people could be denied a regular supply of water by 2050, warns UNESCO in its annual World Water Development Report. Currently, 3.6 billion—half the world’s population–live in areas that are water-scarce at least one month a year, and this is set to rise as the population approaches 10 billion.
But shortages could be eased if countries use natural methods to conserve and trap more water in soil, wetlands and vegetation, rather than relying solely on human-made infrastructure such as reservoirs, irrigation channels and water treatment …