although specific projections can somewhat vary current analysis suggests much of this growth will be attributed to increases in demand by the industrial and domestic sectors oecd burek et al agriculture s share of total water use is therefore likely to fall in comparison with other sectors but it will remain the largest user overall over the coming decades in terms of both water withdrawal and water consumption figure although the global average water stress is only countries experience water stress between which is defined as the minimum threshold of water stress and and countries are above and are therefore under serious water stress un a growing water stress indicates substantial use of water resources with greater impacts on resource sustainability and a rising potential for conflicts among users