According to Nature (2010), approximately 80% of the world's population (5.6 billion in 2011) lives in areas with threats to water security. Water security is a shared threat to humans and nature. Human water management strategies can be harmful to wildlife, such as migratory fish. Regions with intensive agriculture and dense populations, such as the United States and Europe, have a major threat to water security. Water is increasingly used as a weapon in conflicts.[7]​ Water insecurity is always accompanied by one or more problems such as poverty, war and conflict, lack of opportunities for women and environmental degradation.[8]​ Different researchers estimate that during 2010-2015, approximately $800 billion will be needed to cover the annual global investment in water infrastructure. Good management of water resources can jointly protect biodiversity and human water security. Preserving floodplains rather than constructing flood control reservoirs would provide a cost-effective way to control flooding while protecting the biodiversity of wildlife that occupy those areas.[9]​.

The term water security encompasses ideas and concepts related to the sustainability, integration and adaptability of water resources management. There are four key areas of focus: increasing economic well-being, improving social equity, moving towards long-term sustainability, and reducing water-related risks.[10]​ Risks can be further classified as hazards (droughts, floods, and quality deterioration), exposure, and vulnerability.[10]​ Water security is sometimes pursued through the implementation of water desalination systems, pipelines between sources and users, water licenses with different security levels, and warfare.

Urban water security could be understood from a systems perspective, given its complexity and transversal nature. This involves understanding the types of pressures on the water system (such as climate change and urbanization), the state of the water system (water reserves and flows), the impact of the water system on the provision of water services (such as affordability and availability), and responses (including institutional reforms).[10]​.

The allocation of water between competing users is increasingly determined by the application of market-based prices for water licenses or actual water.[11]​.

Water security affects regions, states and countries. Tensions exist between upstream and downstream water users within individual jurisdictions.[6]​.

According to Nature (2010), approximately 80% of the world's population (5.6 billion in 2011) lives in areas with threats to water security. Water security is a shared threat to humans and nature. Human water management strategies can be harmful to wildlife, such as migratory fish. Regions with intensive agriculture and dense populations, such as the United States and Europe, have a major threat to water security. Water is increasingly used as a weapon in conflicts.[7]​ Water insecurity is always accompanied by one or more problems such as poverty, war and conflict, lack of opportunities for women and environmental degradation.[8]​ Different researchers estimate that during 2010-2015, approximately $800 billion will be needed to cover the annual global investment in water infrastructure. Good management of water resources can jointly protect biodiversity and human water security. Preserving floodplains rather than constructing flood control reservoirs would provide a cost-effective way to control flooding while protecting the biodiversity of wildlife that occupy those areas.[9]​.

The term water security encompasses ideas and concepts related to the sustainability, integration and adaptability of water resources management. There are four key areas of focus: increasing economic well-being, improving social equity, moving towards long-term sustainability, and reducing water-related risks.[10]​ Risks can be further classified as hazards (droughts, floods, and quality deterioration), exposure, and vulnerability.[10]​ Water security is sometimes pursued through the implementation of water desalination systems, pipelines between sources and users, water licenses with different security levels, and warfare.

Urban water security could be understood from a systems perspective, given its complexity and transversal nature. This involves understanding the types of pressures on the water system (such as climate change and urbanization), the state of the water system (water reserves and flows), the impact of the water system on the provision of water services (such as affordability and availability), and responses (including institutional reforms).[10]​.

The allocation of water between competing users is increasingly determined by the application of market-based prices for water licenses or actual water.[11]​.