Global Freshwater Supplies Are Drying Up, UN Weather Agency Warns

The world's freshwater storage is shrinking, and glaciers are melting faster than before, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported. In a new global assessment, the WMO said rivers, lakes, and underground water reserves have declined in many regions. At the same time, glaciers continue to retreat at a steady pace. Freshwater storage means the water kept in rivers, lakes, soil, and underground reservoirs. Glaciers are large masses of slow-moving ice that store water and release it over time. The WMO, a United Nations agency that tracks weather and climate, warns that these changes threaten water supplies for drinking, farming, and energy production. The agency calls for better monitoring and stronger action to protect the world's water resources.