The high population growth rate in the West Asia region exceeds by far the rate of developing water resources. Consequently, the annual per capita share of water resources is decreasing, and at an increasing rate. This study shows that developing water resources on a business-as-usual basis will leave the region with serious water shortages, in particular in the Arabian Peninsula where the annual water deficit could increase to as much as 67 percent of demand by 2015.
It is clear that current water resources cannot satisfy future demand much past 2005 without alternative policies. Two alternative policies are examined: in one water supplies are increased, and in the other water supplies are increased and policies altered.
