Water Resources
Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water.
97% of the water on the Earth is salt water. However, only three percent is fresh water; slightly over two thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.[1] The remaining unfrozen freshwater is found mainly as groundwater, with only a small fraction present above ground or in the air.[2]
Fresh water is a renewable resource, yet the world 's supply of clean, fresh water is steadily decreasing.[3][citation needed] Water demand already exceeds supply in many parts of the world[where?][citation needed] and as the world population continues to rise, so too does the water demand. Awareness of the global importance of preserving water for ecosystem services has only recently emerged as, during the 20th century, more than half the world’s wetlands have been lost along with their valuable environmental services for Water Education.[citation needed] The framework for allocating water resources to water users (where such a framework exists) is known as water rights.
Contents
• 1 Sources of fresh water o 1.1 Surface water o 1.2 Under river flow o 1.3 Ground water o 1.4 Desalination o 1.5 Frozen water
• 2 Uses of fresh water o 2.1 Agricultural
2.1.1 Increasing water scarcity o 2.2 Industrial o 2.3 Household o 2.4 Recreation o 2.5 Environmental
• 3 Water stress o 3.1 Population growth o 3.2 Expansion of business activity o 3.3 Rapid urbanization o 3.4 Climate change o 3.5 Depletion of aquifers o 3.6 Pollution and water protection o 3.7 Water and conflict
3.7.1 Shared water resources can promote collaboration
• 4 World water supply and distribution
• 5 Economic considerations o 5.1 Business response
• 6 See also
• 7 Notes
• 8 Further reading
• 9 External links
Sources of fresh water
Surface water
97% of the water on the Earth is salt water. However, only three percent is fresh water; slightly over two thirds of this is frozen in glaciers and polar ice caps.[1] The remaining unfrozen freshwater is found mainly as groundwater, with only a small fraction present above ground or in the air.[2]
Fresh water is a renewable resource, yet the world 's supply of clean, fresh water is steadily decreasing.[3][citation needed] Water demand already exceeds supply in many parts of the world[where?][citation needed] and as the world population continues to rise, so too does the water demand. Awareness of the global importance of preserving water for ecosystem services has only recently emerged as, during the 20th century, more than half the world’s wetlands have been lost along with their valuable environmental services for Water Education.[citation needed] The framework for allocating water resources to water users (where such a framework exists) is known as water rights.
Contents
• 1 Sources of fresh water o 1.1 Surface water o 1.2 Under river flow o 1.3 Ground water o 1.4 Desalination o 1.5 Frozen water
• 2 Uses of fresh water o 2.1 Agricultural
2.1.1 Increasing water scarcity o 2.2 Industrial o 2.3 Household o 2.4 Recreation o 2.5 Environmental
• 3 Water stress o 3.1 Population growth o 3.2 Expansion of business activity o 3.3 Rapid urbanization o 3.4 Climate change o 3.5 Depletion of aquifers o 3.6 Pollution and water protection o 3.7 Water and conflict
3.7.1 Shared water resources can promote collaboration
• 4 World water supply and distribution
• 5 Economic considerations o 5.1 Business response
• 6 See also
• 7 Notes
• 8 Further reading
• 9 External links
Sources of fresh water
Surface water
Bibliography: on Water Resources and International Law Peace Palace Library • US Army Geospatial Center — For information on OCONUS surface water and groundwater. • Water Resource Research Center Arizona • UNESCO-IHE — The UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. • Water resources and use in the Middle East-visual comparison of per capita carbon water resources and water use in the Middle East • Ancient Irrigation from the University of California, Geology Department • Water and the Future of Life on Earth • Water and Cities: Acting on the Vision