According to the United Nations, water scarcity is among the main problems to be faced by many societies this century. Although there is plenty of water on this planet, an increasing number of regions are chronically short of clean water—and that’s a frightening thought. But like always, smart minds are trying to come up with solutions. Researchers have now proposed taking six steps to help reduce water stress, like planting crops that use water and nutrients more efficiently; using more efficient irrigation methods; improving the efficiency of water use in homes; and intensifying water desalination operations by 50-fold.