If a society is experiencing a shortage of clean water, which of the following is the most likely underlying cause related to the concept of scarcity?

Scarcity in economics means that there are limited resources to meet the needs and wants of people. In a society facing a shortage of clean water, the underlying cause could be that the demand for water is greater than the available supply. This might happen due to factors like population growth, pollution, or climate change, which reduce the amount of clean water available. For example, if a city grows rapidly and more people need water for drinking and sanitation, but the rivers and lakes are polluted, there won't be enough clean water for everyone. Thus, the scarcity of clean water arises because the resources are not enough to satisfy the needs of the growing population.