Is water scarcity natural or human-made?
Water scarcity is largely human-made rather than natural. While water is a natural resource, its scarcity is caused by human activities and social organisation.
The growing demands of intensive agriculture, industry and urban centres have led to rapid depletion of water. Rivers have been dammed and diverted, causing damage to water basins. In urban areas, water bodies have been filled up and built upon, destroying natural drainage.
Additionally, aquifers that accumulated water over thousands of years are being emptied in just a few decades. Property relations and social organisation also determine access to water, making scarcity more acute for marginalised groups like women and the poor.
Explanation
The textbook context clearly establishes that water scarcity is primarily human-made. Key evidence includes: (1) growing demands of agriculture, industry and urban centres depleting water, (2) rivers being dammed and diverted, (3) urban water bodies being destroyed, and (4) aquifers being emptied rapidly. The social dimension is also highlighted through property relations and how different social groups experience scarcity differently.