The most abundant substance on planet Earth is water, so why is water scarcity a concern? We frequently hear news about water shortages. Perhaps an immediate image that comes to mind of satellite views of Earth, depicting that about three-fourths of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, with polar regions covered in snow and ice, which are, in turn, among the largest freshwater sources.
In the future, wars will be fought over water, according to renowned climatologists. Approximately 96.5% of Earth’s water is found in oceans, seas, and lakes, rendering it unsuitable for human use.
1.7% exists as ice in polar regions and high-altitude glaciers, and another 1.7% is found in underground aquifers. A mere 0.1% is surface water, including springs, rivers, and water vapor in the atmosphere.
Only 0.8% of the total water in underground aquifers is usable, although not all of it is accessible. Approximately 99.2% of the available water is either unusable or inaccessible.
It’s important to note that only 0.8% of the available water is usable, and its distribution is not uniform across different geographical regions. For instance, semi-arid countries have less water availability.
Only 0.8% of the total water in underground aquifers is usable, although not all of it is accessible. Approximately 99.2% of the available water is either unusable or inaccessible.
Another critical point is the constant amount of water circulating in the Earth’s hydrological cycle over the centuries, despite staggering population growth and the unprecedented increase in industrial, chemical, radioactive, pharmaceutical, biological, and other pollutants.
Moment by moment, the rate of water consumption is increasing while the availability of clean water is simultaneously decreasing. Currently, around one billion people lack access to clean and safe drinking water, and this trend is on the rise.
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