Water futures: the latest battleground in the defence of the fundamental right to water According to the United Nations, water use has increased sixfold over the past century and is rising by about 1 per cent a year. For stock market traders in the United States, water futures offer an opportunity to lock-in water prices, but human rights campaigners say, “it is a serious mistake to consider water a commodity”. (AP/Esteban Felix ) Share this page According to the United Nations, water use has increased sixfold over the past century and is rising by about 1 per cent a year. For stock market traders in the United States, water futures offer an opportunity to lock-in water prices, but human rights campaigners say, “it is a serious mistake to consider water a commodity”.