Figure 6 estimates the amount of water use in the end of 20thCentury to be 6,200
km3/year. As shown in Table 3 however, this level has alredy been surpassed around
1990. Total water use volume has reached 15 to 20% of streamflow (34,000-42,000
km3/year). Largest users of water are in the order of agriculture (41.8%), instream flow
needs (358%) and industry (15%) and manicipalities accounts for only 4.5% of total.
According to a recent U.N.report, however water shortage has occurred at 80 countries
and about 40% of the world population is suffering from water shortagge. This trend is
predicted to intensify in the 21stCentury.