Where is Our Water and How Do We Get It?

            Many of you know, approximately 70% of the Earth is covered in water. However, less than 1% of that water is fresh water. Like the saying goes,

“Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” –Samuel Coleridge

            Our fresh water supply is very limited and most of the 1% we have is contained in groundwater. The small amount of fresh water that is left is found in rivers and lakes. The majority of Earth’s water belongs to seas and oceans, while another portion of it is found in glaciers and permafrost. Distribution of groundwater across the globe can be explained in three categories, regions with the most, least, and moderate amounts of groundwater. Europe takes the title of the region with the most groundwater. The United States, parts of South America and Australia have a moderate, yet sufficient amount of groundwater. That leaves the rest of the world with the least amount of groundwater, with Africa and the Middle East struggling the most.

            There are many different ways in which we acquire the water we use every day. For instance, one way we get our water is from dams that have collected water that has drained down from hilltops and mountains, or “catchment” areas. This water comes in the form of precipitation and is eventually transported to reservoirs where it is then pumped to cities and water towers to be distributed throughout the city. Another way we obtain our fresh water is from aquifers deep underground. These aquifers are accessed by drilling wells above the location of the water. Some wells are able to flow on their own, but most have to be pumped using an energy source such as electricity. Not all wells are pumped using mechanical energy though. In most third world countries, wells are dug near villages and must be hand pumped. Villages depend on these wells, as they are usually their only source of fresh water because most of their other water sources are deeply contaminated. This idea of drilling into aquifers is one of the most popular ways to access fresh water. However, as fresh water depletes, wells need to be drilled deeper and deeper, which only causes depletion to worsen. 

If you'd like to learn more about Earth's water, where it is stored, and how it is accessed... click here.

Sources:

"Where Is Earth's Water Located?" USGS Georgia Water Science Center. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. <http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthwherewater.html>.

"What on Earth Do You Know About Water?" US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. <http://www.epa.gov/gmpo/edresources/water_5.html>.

"Origin and Quantity of Groundwater on the Earth." Water Treatment and Purification. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. <http://www.lenntech.com/groundwater/origin.htm>.

"Catchments." Shoalhaven Water. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. <http://shoalwater.nsw.gov.au/education/catchments.htm>.

"How Does Your Water Get to Your Taps?" The Water Guide. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. <http://www.water-guide.org.uk/science.html>.

"How Do We Get Water Out of the Ground?" Tech Alive Home Page. Web. 01 Feb. 2012. <http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module06/Wells.htm>.