Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town has made real progress on water efficiency since its 2018 "Day Zero" scare. But rising demand, aging infrastructure, and unpredictable rainfall have pushed dam levels through sharp swings in 2026, and city officials say the risk of new restrictions is higher than it's been in years.

Mexico City, Mexico

A significant share of this city's water is piped in from outside the region, and years of low rainfall have left the system critically strained. Many residents continue to face rationed, intermittent access to running water.

São Paulo, Brazil

São Paulo's main reservoir network hit a 10-year low in early 2026 before heavy rains brought a partial rebound. Neighboring Rio de Janeiro has since agreed to share river water with the city as a safeguard — a sign of how fragile the region's supply remains.

Beijing, China

This capital city draws much of its water from farming regions to its north and south. But without water, farmers can't grow crops for the country's roughly 1.4 billion people — leaving officials to manage a constant balancing act between urban and agricultural needs.

Los Angeles, California

The only American city on the list, Los Angeles has seen dramatic swings in 2026 — starting the year drought-free for the first time in 25 years, only to face renewed strain by spring as state water allocations and Colorado River deliveries were both cut. The city's water agency has kept conservation measures in place as a result.

Bangalore, India

Known as the "Silicon Valley of India," Bangalore's population has grown rapidly since the 2000s, straining a water system still heavily dependent on tanker trucks and depleted groundwater. Experts have long warned the city could be among the first in the world to run dry.

"The United Nations predicts this decade will be our most difficult in history when it comes to water," says Klaus Reichardt, CEO and founder of Waterless Co., Inc. "Our only option is to reduce consumption and use water more efficiently."