Informal and formal markets in meeting water needs

Despite being one of the most managed resources on earth, water availability and access can be the subject of illegal trade. These markets and their governance need research as water becomes scarcer.
Around the world, as of 2020 it was estimated that some 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services, while 1.2 billion lack a basic water service. Areas experiencing rapidly expanding urban populations and increased water stress — Jordan being a prime example given the influx of Syrian refugees and the country’s arid nature — are particularly at risk of water scarcity. Such areas often suffer from a lack of formal and regulated water supplies, while the capacity of the public water supply is generally less than
optimal due to underinvestment in upgrades or extensions. In such situations, informal — sometimes illegal — water markets often form to provide water for unmet demand.