Our World Without Water
“Nary a drop to drink”
Introduction
Water is a natural resource which is very critical to all life on Earth. Natural resources are things that come from nature. Natural resources are either renewable or non renewable. Some of the Earth’s natural resources are; Soil, Air, and Water.
Although the Earth is almost covered in water, it is considered a finite resource which means there is an end to the amount of water that is available for human consumption. Where a population lives and also their quality of life, depends on the availability of potable water. This is so because; of all the water on the Earth’s surface, only about one percent is fresh water that is available for human use. Fresh water is found in rivers, streams, lakes and underground aquifers. Global water consumption is on the rise with the increase in the world’s population and industrialisation. This gives rise to water constraint whereby there is a shortage of water to meet the needs of people.
More than one-third of the world’s population live in countries that are facing water constraint. The following is a list of ways water is used for human consumption.
Ten main uses of water 1. Commercial water use refers to fresh water used in motels, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, other commercial facilities, and civilian and military institutions. The restaurant industry is a major source of commercial water usage. 2. Domestic use refers to water that is used in the home every day, for purposes, such as drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing clothes and dishes, flushing toilets, and watering lawns and gardens. 3. Industrial water use is an important resource to a nation's industries. Industries use large amounts of water for steel, chemical, paper, and petroleum refining. This water is often reused over and over for more than one purpose. 4. Irrigation water use is water artificially applied to farm, orchard, and pasture, crops, for frost and freeze protection among
Introduction
Water is a natural resource which is very critical to all life on Earth. Natural resources are things that come from nature. Natural resources are either renewable or non renewable. Some of the Earth’s natural resources are; Soil, Air, and Water.
Although the Earth is almost covered in water, it is considered a finite resource which means there is an end to the amount of water that is available for human consumption. Where a population lives and also their quality of life, depends on the availability of potable water. This is so because; of all the water on the Earth’s surface, only about one percent is fresh water that is available for human use. Fresh water is found in rivers, streams, lakes and underground aquifers. Global water consumption is on the rise with the increase in the world’s population and industrialisation. This gives rise to water constraint whereby there is a shortage of water to meet the needs of people.
More than one-third of the world’s population live in countries that are facing water constraint. The following is a list of ways water is used for human consumption.
Ten main uses of water 1. Commercial water use refers to fresh water used in motels, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, other commercial facilities, and civilian and military institutions. The restaurant industry is a major source of commercial water usage. 2. Domestic use refers to water that is used in the home every day, for purposes, such as drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing clothes and dishes, flushing toilets, and watering lawns and gardens. 3. Industrial water use is an important resource to a nation's industries. Industries use large amounts of water for steel, chemical, paper, and petroleum refining. This water is often reused over and over for more than one purpose. 4. Irrigation water use is water artificially applied to farm, orchard, and pasture, crops, for frost and freeze protection among
References: Bates, B.C., Z.W. Kundzewicz, S. Wu and J.P. Palutikof, Eds., 2008: Climate Change and Water Evans, M. (n.d.). How We Use Water. Sustainability. Retrieved July 13, 2012, from http://sustainability.about.com/od/Sustainability/a/How-We-Use-Water.htm Human Appropriation of the World 's Fresh Water Supply Water Facts: Water. (n.d.). Water.org. Retrieved July 13, 2012, from http://water.org/water-crisis/water-facts/water/ Concern Worldwide The Use of Water Today. (2012, 07 13). Retrieved from The Use of Water Today: http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/fileadmin/wwc/Library/WWVision/Chapter2.pdf UNDP Human Appropriation of the World 's Fresh Water Supply. (n.d.). The Global Change Program at the University of Michigan. Retrieved July 13, 2012, from http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/freshwater_supply/freshwater.html