"Water, water, every where, nor any drop to drink." – "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," Samuel Taylor Coleridge
The world's water demand is expected to balloon 55 percent within 14 years, but global water resources may only meet 60 percent of the need.
A 2015 UN report warns that unless that gap is closed, "the world will face an increasingly severe global water deficit."
NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren, currently on his first mission aboard the International Space Station, shared with his social media followers his #StoryOfWater – views of Earth and its water resources from 250 miles up.
"The #StoryOfWater on a desert canvas [in Saudi Arabia]."
"Colors patiently swirl in a reservoir in Iraq. The #StoryOfWater."
"Desert flows like a river around clusters of civilization. Irrigated ground sharply contrasted in the #StoryOfWater."
"The delicate fingerprints of water imprinted on the sand. The #StoryOfWater."
"I'm constantly amazed by the different colors and textures visible in the #StoryOfWater. Looks like aurora in a lake!"
"A meandering river [Ucayali River, Peru]. The #StoryOfWater."
"The Great Barrier Reef outlines the coast of Australia in turquoise and blue. The #StoryOfWater."
"Lush green blanket over the western part of Kauai #Hawaii. The #StoryOfWater."
"A river fades into the ocean in the #StoryOfWater." View of the Soto La Marina River or Soto la Marina, a river in Mexico.
"A thirsty landscape [in Yemen]. The #StoryOfWater."
"Gorgeous Africa #WaterColor. The #StoryOfWater."
"A valley in Africa. Magnificent. The #StoryOfWater."
"Water carvings in Africa. The #StoryOfWater."
