Soaring population growth, climate change and greater demands for food are placing increasing demands on Earth’s water resources, requiring an integrated approach for sustainable water management, according to a new World Bank report.

“We can’t properly tackle global priorities of food security, renewable energy, adaptation to climate change, public health and urbanization unless we manage water better,” said Julia Bucknall, World Bank Water Sector Manager.

Some 900 million people in developing countries have no access to drinking water – a number that will grow as population soars to over three billion by 2030. This means that the water sector faces immense challenges, the report said.

World Bank increased lending for water projects from $1.8 billion to $6.2 billion from 2003, when it developed its latest water strategy, to 2009. Some three-quarters of that funding went to water supply and sanitation.

The revised strategy calls for funding commitments  between $21 and $25 billion for FY10–13.

“To translate this vision for the water agenda into action, the Bank will continue to combine traditional and innovative financ¬ing and knowledge instruments,” the report said.