Water Comparisons
Freshwater vs. Salt water vs. Brackish water
Freshwater
Fresh water is simply water that does not contain large amounts of salt (less than 1%). This vital resource covers only 3% of the water on the Earth. Typically, fresh water is located in inland bodies, such as ponds, lakes, streams, or sometimes wetlands.
Their are two types of fresh water: Static and Flowing. Static water is found in lakes and ponds while flowing water is found in rivers and streams. The type of water determines the organisms that can thrive in each habitat. More specifically, some plants can handle calm waters while others can endure the speeds found in rivers and streams.
Salt Water
Ocean water is constantly moving. More specifically, the North and South poles provide the cold water while the tropics provide the warm water found in salt water biomes. These habitats house a wide variety of organisms, such as whales, coral, and other animals.
Brackish Water
Brackish water is generally known as waste. In fact, this type of water is the primary waste from the salinity gradient power process and certain civil engineering projects. Not only is brackish water harmful to the environment, but, due to its harsh characteristics, very few organisms are found here.