Up to 5.5 billion people worldwide could be exposed to polluted water by 2100, a modelling study has found.

Researchers mapped surface water quality under three different visions of future climate and socio-economic development.

In every case, sub-Saharan Africa was shown to be among the worst-affected areas.

The predictions, published in Nature Water on 17 July1, offer “a temporal and spatial analysis of what has been, until now, anecdotal evidence regarding water quality in sub-Saharan Africa”, says Tafadzwa Mabhaudhi, who studies climate change and food security at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa.

Without adequate investment in water infrastructure or treatment, “we are definitely sitting on a time bomb”, adds Joshua Edokpayi, a researcher in water-quality management at the University of Venda in Thohoyandou, South Africa.

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