The article assesses the current and projected future global urban water scarcity, along with potential solutions to address this issue. By 2016, 933 million urban residents (one-third of the global urban population) faced water scarcity, with India and China having the highest numbers. By 2050, this number is projected to increase to 1.693–2.373 billion people (one-third to nearly half of the global urban population), with India experiencing the most significant growth. The number of large cities exposed to water scarcity is expected to increase from 193 to 193–284, including 10–20 megacities. Infrastructure investment is identified as a key solution for relieving water scarcity in over two-thirds of water-scarce cities, but the environmental trade-offs associated with large-scale solutions must be carefully considered. The study evaluates seven major solutions: groundwater exploitation, seawater desalination, increased water storage in reservoirs, inter-basin water transfer, improved water-use efficiency, urban landscape management, and virtual water trade. These solutions are assessed for their feasibility in addressing water scarcity in each affected city. Domestic virtual water trade is found to be the most effective solution, followed by inter-basin water transfer and groundwater exploitation. However, 16 large cities, including two megacities in India and Pakistan, are restricted by geography and economic development levels, making it difficult to implement these solutions. The authors emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of water scarcity and potential solutions to promote sustainable and livable urban futures. They suggest promoting water conservation, controlling population growth and urbanization in water-scarce regions, mitigating climate change, and undertaking integrated local sustainability assessments of water scarcity solutions. The study highlights the urgency of addressing global urban water scarcity to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).The article assesses the current and projected future global urban water scarcity, along with potential solutions to address this issue. By 2016, 933 million urban residents (one-third of the global urban population) faced water scarcity, with India and China having the highest numbers. By 2050, this number is projected to increase to 1.693–2.373 billion people (one-third to nearly half of the global urban population), with India experiencing the most significant growth. The number of large cities exposed to water scarcity is expected to increase from 193 to 193–284, including 10–20 megacities. Infrastructure investment is identified as a key solution for relieving water scarcity in over two-thirds of water-scarce cities, but the environmental trade-offs associated with large-scale solutions must be carefully considered. The study evaluates seven major solutions: groundwater exploitation, seawater desalination, increased water storage in reservoirs, inter-basin water transfer, improved water-use efficiency, urban landscape management, and virtual water trade. These solutions are assessed for their feasibility in addressing water scarcity in each affected city. Domestic virtual water trade is found to be the most effective solution, followed by inter-basin water transfer and groundwater exploitation. However, 16 large cities, including two megacities in India and Pakistan, are restricted by geography and economic development levels, making it difficult to implement these solutions. The authors emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of water scarcity and potential solutions to promote sustainable and livable urban futures. They suggest promoting water conservation, controlling population growth and urbanization in water-scarce regions, mitigating climate change, and undertaking integrated local sustainability assessments of water scarcity solutions. The study highlights the urgency of addressing global urban water scarcity to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).