Credit: Florence Low/California Department of Water Resources via AP

Yemen is embroiled in a civil war. Parts of California literally are sinking into the ground. Scientists are working furiously to develop plausible substitutes for conventional meat. And it’s all thanks to one hair-raising trend: We’re running out of fresh water.

For this week’s episode, we investigate how global water shortages are leading to unrest – and, occasionally, innovation – across the globe. From elevated lead levels in Flint, Michigan, to drought-induced wildfires across the Southeast, issues of water scarcity already have hit the United States hard.

We want to hear from you: Is your city investing millions of taxpayer dollars in a desalination plant? Is your well running dry? Using the form below, tell us how a lack of water has influenced you and your behavior. Your responses may be used on our website, show and podcast.

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

Byard Duncan is a reporter and producer for  engagement and collaborations for Reveal. He manages Reveal’s Reporting Networks, which provide more than 1,000 local journalists across the U.S. with resources and training to continue Reveal investigations in their communities. He also helps lead audience engagement initiatives around Reveal’s stories and assists local reporters in elevating their work to a national platform. In addition to Reveal, Duncan’s work has appeared in GQ, Esquire, The California Sunday Magazine and Columbia Journalism Review, among other outlets. He was part of Reveal’s Behind the Smiles project team, which was named a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2019. He is the recipient of two Edward R. Murrow Awards, a National Headliner Award, an Al Neuharth Innovation in Investigative Journalism Award, and two first-place awards for feature storytelling from the Society of Professional Journalists and Best of the West. Duncan is based in Reveal's Emeryville, California, office.