Water shortages will lie at the root of a long menu of future ills in Africa and Asia, from disease and famine to refugee migration and armed conflict. To mitigate the risk of shortages, countries need to focus on basic water stewardship, including replacing leaky urban water mains and building or improving underground storage facilities. Water supply and management will offer possibilities for creative entrepreneurs and their investors. Of all the major trends we forecast, clean water is No. 1.
