Drinking Water Scarcity and Conservation Essay - 1820 Words

During times when many of us have our minds on matters conceivably much more critical than environmental ones, it is difficult to concentrate on the more mundane matters of clean drinking water and clean air. Unfortunately, while our nations attention seems fully consumed with the whereabouts of terrorists, water and air continues to be overused and/or contaminated. In reflecting on this odd state of affairs, we begin to understand how easily it is for us to forget about one of the basic necessities of humanity -- clean drinking water. Considering that water constitutes about 60 percent of our body weight, it is not surprising that it is a critical resource to human beings. (Even larger percentages of water are found various parts†¦show more content†¦More significant to us, 95 percent of the available fresh water in the United States is underground. Obviously then, assuming that we arent going to melt semi-permanent mountain or polar glaciers (something that would exacerbate global warming), the availability of this most important of human resources is restricted to that which we can obtain through extraction from underground or that which we can secure via reservoirs, lakes, etc. Water has been referred to as the most taken-for-granted resource. In almost every American home, if one wants water one only needs to turn the faucet. Something very significant belies this apparent overabundance of liquid water (H2O) in our surroundings. Namely, the vast majority of the water on the Earth isnt consumable by humans in its present form -- largely because it has way too much salt. In fact, even the water that isnt overly salty is tied-up in glaciers and thus not of much use to us in our daily rituals -- such as clothes washing and bathing. What is left to use then? Well, not very much, and that which is left is very unevenly distributed geographically and, thus, politically. Hence, the near future may be a time when nation states fight over water as much, or more so, than they now do oil. In our relatively recent history, there are many reasons to think that, as a resource, water is a serious political and human rights concern. Consider that 1 billion (1,000,000,000) people on EarthShow MoreRelatedDrinking Water Scarcity and Conservation Essay1809 Words   |  8 Pagesmost essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indifference.†    --  Rachel Carson -- The water you see around you, flowing freely, sparkling in the noonday sun, quenching your thirst, bathing you, providing you with life is all limited - there is no place on this planet where new water springs up from a source. Water has been recycled by nature over and over again since time began. Our drinking water at one time or another was way up highRead MoreSpeech on save water save life762 Words   |  4 PagesSave water, save life Water is necessary for life. Water is needed for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes. Three-fourth of Earth s surface is covered by water bodies. 97 per cent of this water is present in oceans as salt water and is unfit for human consumption. Fresh water accounts for only about 2.7 per cent. Nearly 70 per cent of this occurs as ice sheets and glaciers n Antarctica and other inaccessible places. Only one per cent of fresh water is available and fit for human useRead MoreWater Scarcity Problem Of Water1477 Words   |  6 PagesWater is everyone in the world and this is the major reason why many individuals never think about the limited supply of water. People presume that the water supply is infinite. The common saying â€Å"you do not know what you have until it is gone† rings true. Never having to worry about possessing fresh drinking water on a daily basis has caused many individuals to never question where the water is coming from or how much water is left. Due to the simple fact that water covers a majority of the earthRead MoreThe Scarcity of Water Essay96 6 Words   |  4 PagesThe procurability of potable water per capita is scarce and is currently diminishing worldwide. Scientific surveys estimate that the Earth’s surface is relatively seventy-one percent water and twenty-nine percent land. Unfortunately, a substantial amount of the seventy-one percent of water is salty and non-potable. Only about one percent of the available seventy-one percent can only be utilized for human consumption, without requiring initial desalinization. It has been predicted by the United NationsRead MoreSurvey on Water Scarcity Conservation1262 Words   |  6 PagesSurvey on Water Scarcity amp; Conservation Water is becoming a limited natural resource in the world. In an article published on National Geographic website about â€Å"Fresh Water Crisis† [1] it has mentioned that out of the 70% of water which is covering the earth, only 2.5% is suitable for drinking and just 1% of fresh water is easily accessible. In the same article the author talks about how people are wasting this limited resource. The growing scarcity of water is due to the rapid growth ofRead MoreWater Quality And Quantity Of Water898 Words   |  4 Pages Water Quality and Quantity Water quality focuses on the physical and chemical makeup of water samples (toxicity); water quantity speaks to availability of water (scarcity) for human needs and industry. Linking water quality and quantity is sustainability. An abundance of water does not necessarily ensure it can be safely consumed if it’s contaminated by sewage and/or industrial activities. In 2003, the United Nations (UN) created the inter-agency â€Å"mechanism, UN-Water, to identify water quality andRead MoreThe Crisis For Resource Scarcity1592 Words   |  7 PagesThe word scarcity, by definition means ‘to be in short supply’. A scarcity occurs when the demand for a product or good far outweighs the supply of that product or good. In my most humble, yet concerning opinion, I believe resource scarcity, such as water, to be one of the largest and vastly growing sustainability issues that we will face head-on in the coming decade, and decades thereafter. My summation is that globalization along with rapidly evolving technology, consumers are far too consumedRead MoreWater Scarcity Is A Global Concern1207 Words   |  5 PagesWater scarcity is a global concern, and that means there’s even a problem in our own backyard. While it may be difficult to put yourself in the shoes of an African child struggling to find fresh water, it’s important to understand that water scarcity affects everyone, even here in the United States. Water covers approximately seventy percent of the Earth surface, but less than one percent of that is available for human use. The world must share this small amount for agricultural, domesticRead MoreNotes On Water Supply Report1140 Words   |  5 PagesAssignment Title: Water Supply Report Student ID number: 28960 Date of submission: 4th January 2016 Word count: 1127 I. Introduction Water is an important source to survive, but some countries face a big issue with water scarcity, which has limited economical development, food production to meet the basic health and hygiene needs of the population (Neima B.) Having access to safe drinking water has many benefits, it helps in education, improves Health, and sickness is reduced, clean water also leadsRead MoreConserving Water Is Conserving Life. Earth Is Often Called1129 Words   |  5 PagesConserving Water is Conserving Life Earth is often called the â€Å"Blue Planet†, and rightfully so, since nearly 75 percent of the planet is covered with water. This may lead some to believe that conservation is not concerning or an important issue. What many do not realize is that only 3 percent of that 75 percent is freshwater, and less than one-third of the fresh water is in a form or location that is accessible for human consumption (American Museum of Natural History). Water conservation is an urgent