Water summit overshadowed by outbreak of war

How to slake a planet's thirst
Our growing demand for water threatens the world's development and security. Solving this crisis need not involve flashy technologies. But it will require science, plus a large dose of political will.

The world's forgotten crisis
Over a billion people cannot get clean water, and things are getting worse.

Atlas of a thirsty planet
A set of interactive maps showing the countries worst hit by drinking-water problems, and the consequences in terms of human suffering.

Delta blues
Living on the flood plain of three great rivers, the people of Bangladesh endure floods, drought, water-borne disease and much else besides. Can they entertain any hope of relief? Tom Clarke investigates.

Climate and water
A web focus from September 2002 encompassing a specially commissioned Insight on Climate and Water, together with a selection of articles from Nature, all of which illuminate the connections between climate and water in ice, oceans and atmosphere.