Water for Life
By: Celbi Richardson
Water Scarcity
All humans and animals need water to survive. A large percentage of Earth is made up of water. For example salt water makes up about 97% of all water on Earth and can not be used to drink because, its salt content is harmful to humans. However humans can drink freshwater. Freshwater makes up about 2% of the Earth’s water. Most of Earth’s freshwater is in glaciers and icecaps. Of the freshwater that isn’t frozen it is used for growing crops, industrial purposes, and household use. Although Earth’s freshwater is being contaminated or overused, water sources are being polluted by human waste and other harmful chemicals. People are also burning fossil fuels and other gases. These gases let of CO2 into the atmosphere and causes the greenhouse effect. When this happens it causes global warming. Global warming causes weather extremes like long drought and drying up natural freshwater resources. In addition to water sources being contaminate and overused because people are fighting over control of water sources to survive. As you can see water is a necessity that drives the world economy. According to Stuart A. Kallen “The availability to the control of freshwater supplies are issues posed to define life in the 21st century.” Water is needed for humans and animals to survive on Earth.