Violence breaks out at a line waiting for water at a spring in Cape Town

Ongoing protests against lack of water, mismanagement, and corruption around water are led by residents in small towns in western Iran. These protests gain more media attention as tensions escalate over time and may be linked to demonstrations from late 2017 and early 2018 that lead to the death of dozens of people. In 2018, at least nine environmental leaders are arrested, and one jailed environmentalist dies of alleged suicide.

Lack of water in cities across India — due to drought, growing populations, and inadequate infrastructure — leads to high tensions, resulting in at least two deaths when a fight breaks out between residents waiting in line at a water truck. Those working for the water companies with the responsibility of turning different water lines on and off, called “key men,” are increasingly harassed by residents wanting to persuade them to keep their water on.

Water shortages in the southern part of Iran have caused protests, which turned violent with attacks on property and other infrastructure. Police action to break up the protests lead to several injuries and deaths.

A grandmother and her grandson in a small village in India insist on being allowed to use a private well to get water. The well owner refuses and sends men to beat the grandmother and grandson with sticks, injuring them both. The owner is concerned that his well cannot provide water to the entire village and therefore, he does not want to provide water to anyone.