1. Water: The Indispensible Resources
Fresh Water Supply
Surface Water Contamination
Sustainable Water Usage

2. The World’s Water Only 2.5% of the worlds water is fresh water
70% of that is in the form of ice caps and glaciers, and most of the remaining is groundwater
Surface water is by far the most used source
Only 0.3% is in the form of lakes and rivers

3. Surface Water Pollution
People often build cities around fresh water sources, but often neglect to take care of the resource
Municipal wastewater may contain human waste, detergents, and solvents
Agricultural chemicals like herbicides and pesticides leak into surface water
Industries such as oil refineries, pulp mills, and chemical factories release waste into rivers and oceans

4. Effects of Surface Water Pollution
Toxic waste such as mercury have been found in whales and polar bears in the arctic
Beluga whales in the St. Lawrence River are threatened by pollution from human, industrial, and agricultural waste
Victoria's raw sewage is pumped out to the Juan de Fuca Strait at a rate of 130 million liters per day.
dump all of its untreated waste (including pesticides, street runoff and pharmaceuticals) into the ocean.

5. Increased Populations are the Main Threat to the World’s Fresh Water
Falling groundwater tables and diversion of surface supplies for crop irrigation are the main causes of shortages
The Nile River in Africa, Ganges River in India, Yellow River in China, Colorado River in the US run dry or almost before reaching the ocean

6. Water Shortages Threaten Global Food Production
About 36% of the world’s harvests come from irrigated croplands
Depleted rivers threaten those crops
US, China, and India are all facing reduced groundwater supplies
These countries produce half of the world’s food supply

7. Unsustainable Water Programs
In the latter half of the 20th century, new well drilling technologies and techniques allowed farmers to tap groundwater in aquifers beneath the land
The main problem is that, unlike surface water, aquifers are not rapidly replenished
Leads to drilling deeper for more water, but deeper wells can tap arsenic and other minerals

8. Using Water Efficiently
Rainwater harvesting can be done on a large and small scale
Used to water small private gardens and large irrigation projects
Low energy sprinkler systems and drip irrigation direct water to plant roots and reduce consumption
Individuals reducing consumption at home
Low flow toilets and showers
Fines for people who waste

9. Bottled Water: A Disguised Danger
In production: plastic bottles which are derived from crude oil. It can take up to 3L of water to produce 1L of water.
In transportation: Transportation of bottled water around the world requires burning of fossil fuels
In landfill and the litter stream: Only 5% of bottles are recycled. Take up to 1000 years to break down. They often end up in the sea, killing marine life that mistake them for food.