19-03-2014, 10:17 AM
Fresh Water resources
Global Overview
While 67% of Earth’s surface is covered by water, only less than 2.7% of global water is freshwater. Most of the freshwater (2.05%) are locked in ice caps and glaciers. Only less than 0.7% is available for human use.
Scarcity of fresh water
On a global basis, fresh water is a increasingly scarce resource. It is partially caused by increasing population coupled by change of consumption pattern and climate changes.
Water consumption for food production (I)
Meat production use a lot of water when compared to growing food crops.
A shift in food consumption pattern toward more meat consumption will cause a substantial increase in water consumption.
Competing water uses (II)
Industrialized / developed countries tend to use more water in their industrial production.
Other countries tend to use more water for agricultural uses.
Threats to fresh water resources
Climate change causes change in frequencies of droughts and floods.
Depletion of aquifers caused by over-consumption as a result of population growth.
Pollution and contamination by sewage, agricultural and industrial runoff.
[b]Water in China[/b]
According to the World Bank forecast, Mainland China has only a per-capita share of 2700 cubic meters per annum, one fourth of the world's average at present.
Half of China's 617 largest cities face water deficits. Beijing is among the most water-short.
The areas south of the Yangtze River, China's longest, which account for only 36.5 per cent of the country's total territory, have 80.9 per cent of its total water resources. However the areas north of the Yangtze, which make up 63.5 per cent of China, possess only 19.1 per cent of total water resources.