Freshwater vs Brackish vs Saltwater
By Matthew Stevens
Freshwater
- Freshwater has very little salt content (less than 1%)
- The majority of drinking water comes from freshwater sources
- Freshwater sources include lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, etc.
Brackish Water
- Brackish Water occurs when fresh and salt water meet
- The level of salt in Brackish water is between that of freshwater and that of salt water
- Brackish water sources include seas such as the Baltic and Caspian seas, and tributaries where rivers meet the oceans
Salt Water
- Large salt content (about 35 grams of salt per liter of water) compared to fresh and brackish water
- Salt water covers more than 2/3 of the earth's surface and contains many species of plants and animals