Global Water Issues

Global water issues is a topic which describes how access to clean and fresh water, a critical resource, is not a universal reality. This is a major issue in developing countries especially, where a majority of the population has limited access to an adequate water supply due to poor infrastructure. As the world population continues to rise, the demand for freshwater will increase and this is will outstrip the water which is globally available.

In terms of where water exists on the planet, the ocean holds about 97.5% of the globe's water, with the remaining 2.5% existing as freshwater. From this freshwater percentage, 79% is held within ice caps and glaciers, 20% exists as groundwater and a mere 1% is available surface water. This available surface water exists within lakes, as soil moisture, in rivers, within living organisms and as water vapour in the atmosphere. These statistics illustrate that in the grand scheme of things, there is not a large supply of freshwater on this planet and an even smaller proportion which is available for human use.

Water is an essential resource for basic human needs: drinking, hygiene and cooking. In order for water to be of an appropriate quality to fulfill these needs, it needs to be both free of biological containments (free from water-borne diseases) and free from chemicals. Unfortunately, water-borne diseases are a serious issue in some areas of the world and this illustrates that a large proportion of the population only has access to unsafe potable water. Furthermore, water is also used for various large scale applications such as in agriculture and for generating energy.

Global water issues are a serious concern today, especially as critical water sources, such as some fresh water aquifers, are drying up and water shortages are becoming more common across the globe. Without a doubt, water is one of the most important resources humans depend on. Thus, understanding how to protect the world’s water supply and the natural ecosystems which supply freshwater is of critical importance.

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Public Water Supply

Permits for different environmental activities require costs to the facility that is applying for the permit along with costs for the governmental agency that runs the permit program. Many people view water as free and a public water supply is not required to obtain a permit to serve water to the public. In your opinion, would r

Water Pollution and Eutrophication

In regards to water pollution, please answer the following questions: 1. Define Eutrophication 2. Discuss the causes and sources of Eutrophication. 3. Discuss impacts due to the pollution issue both on the natural environment/ecosystems and human populations. What are some solutions to mitigate the problem?

Watershed Field Monitoring

Golden Olives is a 7000 watershed. What type of field monitoring would be needed? Would stream flow data be helpful, and why or why not?

Studying Golden Olives' Watershed

Golden Olives is a 7000 watershed. The major land uses include Lisa Jackson who owns a 250 acre horse farm in an upstream section of watershed, Robert J. Bowden owns a 500 acre cattle ranch far from the river shore, J.P. Ryan owns 15 apartment buildings and two paper mills in a downstream well developed part of the watershed, Ma

The Drainage Area of a Watershed

Multiple Choice with justification. Choose the single best Answer (a, b, c, or d) and explain/justify with a sentence or two. Question: the drainage area of a watershed is defined as: Answer: 1. a. 500-2,000 square miles b. 25,000 square miles c. exactly 10 square miles d. 20-100 square miles

Comparison of a Watershed

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Middle Savannah Watershed

Describe the pollution that is created in the watershed of the Middle Savannah area. Watershed name: Middle savannah USGS cataloging unit: 03060106

Water that falls on a watershed

What happens to water that falls on a watershed and why should you care?

Water Quality Trading Program

What factors might undermine a water quality trading program? What are some characteristics that successful water quality trading programs share?

Housing; Recreational Areas and Bathing Facilities; Disaster Sanitation

Sewage and urban runoff can reach the coastline in crowded urban areas. To protect the health of swimmers from fecal contamination at beaches, public health officials routinely monitor the coastal waters for indicator organisms bacteria, such as fecal Coliform and Enterococcus. These organisms are naturally found in the intest

Environmental Health

In many less industrialized parts of the world, diseases from inadequate water supply and water contamination are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. 1) Describe how water quality is linked to public health, in general. 2) Compare the concerns with water quality AND water quantity in the United States with these

Five Water Pollutants

Name and describe 5 different Water Pollutants? Including the source of it, method of pollution, and possible control technology for each one.

History of the Total Maximum Daily Load Program

Can someone tell me the History of the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Program from a national perspective in their own words? (150 words)

Water Resource Plan

Pleas help me write a 700-1100 word paper in APA format that includes the following regarding overfishing: A management and sustainment plan that you think will alleviate the problem. Any opposing views on the issue. Other water or land resource problems that might result from the issue. Any challenges,limitations. or implic

Water Scarcity in Middle East

This inquiry is examined: Choose and describe two ways in which the scarcity of water has affected the cultural, economic, or political history of the Middle East region.

Assist Haiti with food and water supply

List pros and cons of three alternative methods for maximizing food production, decide on most successful, explain why. Identify two ways Haiti is misusing water supply, propose ways for better use of water available to them.

Waterborne Diseases - Public Health Risk

Pose 3 informed questions to the writer of the following comment: Since the latest disasters Tsunami and Katrina the concern for waterborne diseases seems to be a concern for not only the public, but a national public health concern. The CDC reported that since 1971, the CDC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have

Bacterial risk and recreation

I am looking at a problem in a textbook that asks me to explain if I would allow water activities in a city river. The data collected by the City are those of fecal coliforms, total coliforms and heterotrophic plate counts. These types of bacteriological analysis are used to determine the presence of sewage pollution, water qua