Limited Supply -- Diminishing Quality

Only 0.6% of the world’s fresh water is usable. And the quality is deteriorating.

There are basically two types of fresh water, surface water, which comes from lakes and rivers. And ground water, which comes from wells and aquifers. The hydro logic cycle of water ensures a constant amount - the water evaporates, returns as rain or snow, and evaporates again.

Yet despite the consistent yield of water, the world currently faces a critical water problem.

Contamination from fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, animal waste, salts from evaporated irrigation water and silt from deforestation are flowing into ground and surface water. Manufacturing plants and mines pollute with toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Power plant emissions create acid rain, which contaminates surface water. Untreated sewage taints urban rivers in developing countries. Salt water seeps into coastal aquifers that have been depleted by overuse.

Recent public health emergencies: In 1993, more than 400,000 people in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, became ill and nearly 100 people died during a failure in the drinking water filtration system. Other recent outbreaks include one in Las Vegas and one at The Pentagon.