Water resources of the world: the source of life for the planet

Water from ancient times has been for man not just a means of quenching thirst, but also a source of life. Ancient tribes settled along the banks of rivers, because they gave them food, the opportunity to grow a regular harvest and escape from the exhausting summer heat. But the world's water resources inevitably decline every year, and in order to maintain the normal existence of our planet, mankind has to put more and more efforts.

The emergence of these problems is facilitated not only by the deteriorating ecological situation, in particular, the greenhouse effect, which leads to the gradual evaporation of water from the surface of the planet, but also the growth of the Earth's population. Uneven distribution of water throughout the continents and islands leads to water shortages in some countries. It is particularly pronounced in such states as Kuwait, Libya, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and some countries of Central Africa.

Main world Water resources are concentrated in the territory of Brazil, Russia, the USA and Canada. But it is worth noting that in the territories of the above-mentioned states they are distributed so unevenly that some part of the population still feels a water deficit. So, for example, such large American cities as Los Angeles and New York often take away part of the water resources from farmers whose possessions are located near these megacities.

Water resources of the world are concentrated not only in the largest rivers, fresh lakes and reservoirs. The largest water reserves are the caps of the centuries-old ice covering the poles of our planet. It is thanks to the gradual melting of these glaciers that the water reserves on the Earth are regularly replenished. But in recent years, researchers from the North and South Poles have been increasingly suggesting that the acceleration of melting leads to a steady reduction in the supply of drinking water on the planet, which in the future may threaten a real catastrophe.

In order to preserve the world's water resources and prevent their drastic reduction, the international community annually develops special programs for the protection of the environment, reducing the harm caused by the greenhouse effect and purification of water used by industrial enterprises.

Another urgent problem related to the water resources of our planet is their constant pollution. Often, especially in underdeveloped countries, wastewater is not cleaned and mixed with clean water intended for domestic use. As a result, the amount of water that is really suitable for humans is reduced, and all sorts of diseases develop.

Water resources of the Earth require a very attentive attitude, therefore ecologists of most countries of the world devote an enormous amount of time to the problems of erecting water treatment plants in industrial enterprises.

The gradual drying up of rivers and lakes, especially in the regions of Africa and South Asia, already in a few dozen years threatens an ecological catastrophe in these regions. Scientists predict that by 2025 the water resources of the world will be so reduced that about three billion inhabitants of the planet will live on the verge of a "water crisis". To prevent such a situation, water consumption should be made more rational now, as well as to establish rainwater harvesting systems, experts say.

There is also a gradual development of such a relatively new branch of the economy as desalination of sea water. Countries with increased water deficit, for example, Kuwait, pay great attention to this problem and are developing all new desalination stations. Today, water has become even the subject of trade - some countries purchase clean water from states where the moisture reserves are much higher.