How the Predominance of Water Resources Informs Management

While a number of different kinds of water resources can coexist in a given country, generally speaking, one type in particular predominates based on hydrographical and hydrogeological conditions. Countries or territories located in arid and semiarid zones can therefore fall into three categories, according to their predominant type of water resources: internal renewable resources, external renewable resources, and nonrenewable resources. The types of predominant water resources and the differences in resulting total water resources have a visible impact in terms of explaining current differences in economic development and geopolitical issues in general. In all cases, development and food security seem to be highly dependent on trade with developed countries located in humid zones. In the long term, differences in variously sustainable sources of supply may have the greatest impact on development.