Examining 164 countries in total, the WRI has determined that 17 countries face 'extremely high water stress', and a quarter of the world's population lives in these countries. The 17 countries cited are at the cusp of reaching 'day zero', which is when taps run dry.
Those 17 countries are Qatar, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, UAE, San Marino, Bahrain, India, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Oman and Botswana.
The report outlined another side to climate change and our fast lifestyles, highlighting that lack of water is the biggest global crisis to hit mankind, with consequences including famines, mass migration, and financial instability.
The report ranked Luxembourg 49 out of 164, estimating the risk for water stress in the future at medium to high.
So whilst tap water may be cheaper than bottled water, this does not mean that we should not be mindful with it and work to conserve water instead of using it mindlessly.
Thrifty drinking: How much money could you save by swapping from bottled to tap water?
'Day zero': Quarter of world's population facing extreme water stress
