The WMF also called for immediate action to combat water infiltration and structural deterioration at the cathedral church of St Michael in Coventry, England.

BBC: An increase of urban areas on watch

To try to combat the problem, the agency has twice released better-oxygenated water from Kielder Reservoir into the river in an effort to help salmon move out of the estuary and into the freshwater section of the river.

BBC: Hundreds of salmon die in heat

But Zafar Adeel of the United Nations University International Network on Water, Environment and Health, an expert on water management and a leading author of the report, warned that more needed to be done to combat desertification.

CNN: Growing deserts 'a global problem'

Herrman points out that in response to the claims that the NYSE had been flooded with three feet of water, social media users in the area uploaded photos of the building looking high and dry to combat the rumors.

FORBES: Hurricane Sandy, @ComfortablySmug, and The Flood of Social Media Misinformation