In 2009, 700 million people in 43 countries were estimated to live below the waterstress threshold of 1700 cubic metres per person. By 2025 that number is estimated to reach three billion (UNDP 2006). Global water diversions for agriculture represent approximately 70 per cent of total water consumption and are expected to grow by up to 17 per cent by 2025 (de Fraiture and others 2001). Climate change and rapidly expanding populations in the developing world threaten to exacerbate water related poverty and undermine alleviating
