Scenario 9

Water Scarcity in a Desert Region

In a desert region, rivers and underground water are drying up because of long droughts. Water supply is also reduced by inefficient use and poor water management practices. Families struggle to get enough drinking water, farmers face crop failures because they cannot irrigate land, and there are conflicts over who controls the water supply. Women and girls, who are often responsible for collecting household water, must travel farther and spend more time each day to meet their families’ needs. New technologies can help save water, but not everyone has equal access to them.

Which aspect(s) of this scenario are you most concerned about?

Answer Choice	Points	SDG Connection	Description
Lack of access to safe drinking water.	2	SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, Target 6.1	Implementing innovations on a community-wide scale can help ensure access to clean water.
Lack of access to safe drinking water.	1	SDG 3: Good health and well-being, Target 3.9	Lack of safe water supplies directly impacts human health, especially for populations already vulnerable due to lack of other resources, including sanitation services.
1	SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, Target 10.3	Inadequate access to water means vulnerable populations (e.g., rural or low-income households) are disproportionately affected, exacerbating inequality.

Unequal impacts on rural versus urban populations.	2	SDG 10: Reduced inequalities, Target 10.2	Urban areas almost always have a greater negative environmental impact than rural communities, such as those in deserts, though rural communities bear the brunt of negative consequences as they are more directly dependent on accessing resources from the land.
Unequal impacts on rural versus urban populations.	1	SDG 1: No poverty, Target 1.4	Unequal access to basics, like water, can deepen poverty, especially when rural communities lack ownership of local lands and resources.

Crops failing disrupts food supply.	2	SDG 2: Zero hunger, Target 2.3	People in desert regions are at risk of food insecurity because their food is often locally sourced.
Crops failing disrupts food supply.	1	SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, Target 6.4	Lack of water for irrigation reduces agricultural productivity, because irrigation requires a significant amount of water, and agricultural water needs should be balanced with other water uses.
1	SDG 15: Life on land, Target 15.3	Water scarcity affects ecosystems, including soil health and vegetation, essential for sustaining life on land.

Children, especially girls, miss school because they spend time collecting water.	2	SDG 4: Quality education, Target 4.1	Time spent collecting water reduces school attendance and learning opportunities for girls.
	1	SDG 5: Gender equality, Target 5.4	Girls are disproportionately burdened with water collection, reinforcing gender inequality.
1	SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, Target 6.2	Poor water access indirectly affects educational outcomes by increasing domestic labor responsibilities.

New technologies for water reuse and conservation.	2	SDG 9: Industry, innovation, and infrastructure, Target 9.4	Developing and implementing water-saving technologies is directly tied to sustainable infrastructure and innovation.
New technologies for water reuse and conservation.	1	SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, Target 6.4	Improved technologies can enhance access to safe water.
1	SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production, Target 12.2	Technologies that conserve water promote more responsible use of limited natural resources.

Limited influence of policies and laws that support women’s rights and inclusion.	2	SDG 16: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Target 16.6	Policies, justice, and strong institutions matter for all citizens.
	1	SDG 5: Gender equality, Target 5.1	Limited policy influence undermines gender equality goals.
1	SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals, Target 17.11	Collaborative advocacy can strengthen legal frameworks and policy implementation.