Water scarcity occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available supply during a certain period or when poor water quality restricts its use. Physical scarcity is caused by limited access to water in areas where demand outstrips the land's ability to provide water, like dry or arid regions. Economic scarcity is when a population lacks the monetary means to access an adequate water source due to unequal distribution of resources often caused by political or ethnic conflicts. Supply issues that can exacerbate scarcity include water sources being inaccessible or out of reach, lack of infrastructure, loss of water from rain and evaporation, depletion of fossilized aquifers and wetlands, and pollution.