Water makes up 71% of Earth’s surface and yet, more than half the world’s population endures extreme water scarcity. It’s predicted that by 2040, 33 countries will face extreme high water stress. Does this mean that Earth is running out of clean water? On one hand, it is impossible for Earth to run out of fresh water because it has the water cycle, which will always replenish the fresh water supply. But on the other hand, only 3% of all the water on earth is freshwater; the rest is salt water. Within the small percentage of freshwater, two thirds is frozen in the polar ice caps. This leaves us less than 1% of fresh drinkable water, which is spread out in the form of rivers, lakes, underground reserves, ground ice, and permafrost. Unfortunately, these sources are being depleted quicker than they can be replenished, especially in areas that have a lower water supply to begin with. When this happens, humans use the limited underground reserves to meet the demand. But surprisingly, it is not manufacturing or household water consumption that is draining our water supply; it is the agriculture industry, claiming 92% of our water consumption. It is estimated that farms drain roughly 3.3 billion Olympic-sized swimming pools each year, all of which go to growing crops and livestock for us to consume. While this is necessary, it’s beginning to threaten earth’s water supply. Luckily, farmers are finding ways to reduce their consumption, such as using special irrigation techniques. Other industries are also looking for ways to reuse and recycle water. Individuals can also be water conscious and adopt new dietary lifestyles, such as vegetarianism. While the earth may never run out of water, we still run the risk of draining our water supply dry if we are not careful.
