Water shortages can lead to drought

A water shortage is when the human demand for water exceeds available water supply. In comparison, a drought is a prolonged period of extremely low or complete lack of precipitation. Droughts are natural events of varying duration that have occurred throughout history and they are part of the natural fluctuations of the planet's climate system.

While droughts can occur anywhere, regions with a semi-arid or arid climate and low levels of annual precipitation are more vulnerable to droughts. In Canada, southern Saskatchewan, Alberta and the interior valleys of British Columbia experience frequent droughts.