At a Glance

In the 17 countries ranked 'extremely high,' 80 percent of available water on average is used each year. Another 44 countries ranked ranked high on the scale and use 40 percent of the available water. Withdrawing so much water each years leaves communities and people especially vulnerable during periods of droughts.

A quarter of the world's population across 17 countries is at risk of running out of water, putting the health, industry, agriculture and energy production needs of millions at risk, a new report says.

From Chennai, India, to Cape Town, South Africa, the is now becoming all too commonplace, the World Resources Institute (WRI), a U.S.-based think tank, reports.

More than a billion people currently live in water-scarce regions, with that number climbing. By 2025, some could experience water scarcity, according to the World Bank.

The primary reason for the water stress in many countries is simply too many people vying for available water. Demand in some areas has doubled since the 1960s, with no indication of any leveling off anytime soon.

According to the updated , 17 countries that are home to a quarter of the world's population are dealing with "extremely high” levels of water stress.

In these countries, agriculture, industries and municipalities withdraw more than 80 percent of the available supply of water on average each year. Topping the list are Qatar, Israel and Lebanon.

In another 44 countries — home to a third of the world's population — the withdrawal of available water supplies is 40 percent each year, placing those countries in the level of "high" water stress.

Withdrawing so much water each year leaves communities and their residents especially vulnerable during periods of droughts, which will likely increase in some areas with climate change and the expected shifts in weather patterns.

“Water stress is the is talking about. Its consequences are in plain sight in the form of food insecurity, conflict and migration, and financial instability,” Andrew Steer, president and CEO of the World Resources Institute, said in a press release

“The newly updated Aqueduct tools allow users to better see and understand water risks and make smart decisions to manage them. A new generation of solutions is emerging, but nowhere near fast enough. Failure to act will be massively expensive in human lives and livelihoods.”

"Day zero," or the day when the taps must be turned off because water has dried up, is becoming a real threat. In July, the world turned its eyes on the city of Chennai in southern India when the taps had to be turned off after all four reservoirs serving the municipality dried up. Cities like Cape Town and São Paolo, Brazil, have faced similar situations.

(MORE:Indian City in Water Crisis as All Four Reservoirs Run Dry)

The water stress could have other consequences, as well. Twelve of the 17 countries identified as "extremely high" are in North Africa and the Middle East. Experts say the water crisis could lead to more conflict in these already unstable regions of the world.

India, home to 1.3 billion people, was ranked 13th on the list and has three times the combined total population of the other 16 countries listed as "extremely high."

“The recent water crisis in Chennai gained global attention, but various areas in India are experiencing chronic water stress as well,” said Shashi Shekhar, former secretary of India’s Ministry of Water Resources, and senior fellow, WRI India.

“India can manage its water risk with the help of reliable and robust data pertaining to rainfall, surface and groundwater to develop strategies that strengthen resilience. Aqueduct can help identify and prioritize water risks in India and around the world."

While the United States overall ranked low-medium for water stress of countries at 48th, some states like California, Nevada, Colorado and Nebraska are ranked "high." New Mexico is ranked "extremely high."

The full listing of countries and their rankings can be found .