A water tower.
Water resources are often sources of water that can be beneficial to people. Distinguishing between water and water resources is important because not all water that humans have access to is adequate for their needs. Human beings generally need fresh water, and most of the water on Earth does not fall into this category. Freshwater sources include lakes, rivers, and ice caps.
A map of the polar ice caps, which contain much of the Earth’s fresh water.
Potential water resources for humans are limited compared to the total amount of water on Earth. Only 3% of the water on Earth is fresh. Although fresh water is distributed throughout the world, most of it is frozen in the form of glaciers and ice caps. This makes most people on Earth dependent on rivers, lakes, and groundwater. These water resources are becoming the subject of increasing problems.
Scientists have speculated that frozen water on other planets could support life.
At the same time, not much attention was paid to water resources for humans. However, in modern times, people are beginning to realize that the problem cannot be ignored. Emphasis on the conservation and protection of these resources has increased in international efforts. This happened because some places are already facing water shortages. Experts predict problems for much larger portions of the population in the future if preventive measures are not taken.
As desalination techniques improve and become more cost-effective, saltwater could become a critical water resource.
There are several things that are responsible for current and impending water problems. Pollution, climate change and urbanization are some of the common examples. Climate change is affecting resources, causing rivers and lakes to dry up. Many of these water resources have been used for centuries to support domestic and agricultural uses. Sustainable alternatives are often not readily available.
Tap water is a type of water resource.
Urbanization affects water resources because many cities are growing but their water supplies are not. More people living in a place means that the water needs of that place are greater. Unfortunately, making unlimited supplies of water available to you is not an option.
Pollution means that people dirty their water resources. Sometimes this is done by individuals and sometimes by industrial entities. Dealing with contamination is often not simple. In some cases, even when technically possible, resources are lacking.
Salt water sources can, in some cases, be used as water resources. This is done through a process known as desalination, which involves removing salt from the water. This is an expensive process and not widely used. It is not generally promoted as a solution to water problems.
Governments and civil society organizations are investing a lot of efforts to make people aware of issues related to water resources for human beings. Tips and solutions are often offered to educate people on how to change their habits. In general, it is believed that sustainable solutions must include efforts from all levels of society.