Water is Precious
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When we take a look at the satellite view of our planet Earth, most of us would probably notice how vast the proportion of water area is, giving the impression that water is a seemingly infinite resource. In fact, water does constitute a large proportion of Earth, with up to 71% of Earth’s surface being being covered with it.
When we consider that almost three quarters of our Earth’s surface constitutes of water, it would be difficult to imagine that water scarcity would even exist. But did you know, the Earth consists of 2.5% freshwater, in which only 1% is available for human consumption?
While the quantity of water has been fairly constant since the beginning of time due to hydrological processes, we have to consider the impacts of human population growth and climate change.
Issues and the Need for Water Conservation
Climate Change Population Growth
| Climate change leads to the increase in temperature, affecting the hydrological cycle. A warmer atmosphere leads to more extreme weather patterns, ranging from extreme rainfall and droughts. In addition, glaciers and snow caps are melting at a faster rate. These effects poses a threat to water security for every country. |
| Population growth limits the amount of water available per person. Accompanied with economic growth, water usage has been rising at a even faster rate. This also means an increased tension in competition and demand on water usage. |