4.2.5—Water scarcity types

Physical scarcity means renewable water is insufficient; economic scarcity means water exists but access infrastructure, institutions or affordability fail.

Physical cases need demand reduction, allocation or new sources; economic cases need pipes, treatment, maintenance, rights and finance. A place can experience both.

A dry basin with over-abstraction is physical scarcity; a rainy region with broken treatment plants is economic scarcity.

Water is present, but households cannot safely reach or afford it.

Poverty is not the definition of economic scarcity; identify the failed access system.