For many people, water has never been a big story in their lives. It is because they live in communities that have clean water supply systems. They turn on the tap and clean water flows, every day of the year. This makes it very difficult for people to appreciate how precious water is.

Water is life. Plants, animals, and humans all depend on this invaluable natural resource for life. Besides this, water is a medium for moving waste, cleaning, sanitation, manufacturing, construction, and farming. Almost every human activity you can think of involves some use of water.

Water covers more than 70% of the earth’s surface,
so how can there ever be scarcity?

Less than 3% of the water on earth is freshwater, and the bulk of this is trapped in snowfields and glaciers and not easily accessible. The rest form the seas and oceans and cannot be used in the same way as freshwater. Only a tiny fraction (0.014%) is surface water in the form of rivers, lakes, and swamps.

Naturally, the 3% should be enough for all humans and animals on earth but unfortunately, many factors have caused an upset in the flow and use of freshwater and caused a massive crisis in many regions of the earth.

But why should you care?
We should care because a lot of the factors that cause water scarcity are broadening and becoming more complex and uncontrollable. If we do nothing in terms of preserving and using it wisely, it is only a matter of time before all regions begin to experience the water crisis and all the repercussions that come with it.

Did you know…
Experts say that a person in a developed country having a five-minute shower uses more water than the average person in a developing country slum uses for an entire day.