Global water demand projected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030

Global water demand is projected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030, according to an analysis by Thomas Insights. While agriculture accounts for approximately 70% of freshwater withdrawals, industrial processes contribute just under 20%.

Water serves as a critical structural element in modern production, used for cooling plants, cleaning components, generating energy, and manufacturing goods such as semiconductors, textiles, and vehicles. High-consumption sectors include the automotive industry, where producing a single vehicle can require over 147,000 liters of water, and the digital sector, where data centers may use more than one million liters daily for cooling.

To mitigate these pressures, the industrial sector is increasingly adopting innovations in recovery, reuse, and optimization. Technologies such as real-time monitoring, closed-loop systems, and circular economy processes are being implemented to reduce water footprints. Enrico Boerci, CEO of BrianzAcque, emphasizes that protecting this resource requires a strategic alliance between water managers, the production system, and citizens through resilient infrastructure and conscious consumption.