In the United States, water is withdrawn in staggering quantities to meet the needs of an ever-growing population. For decades, water consumption in the United States has exceeded its ecological footprint. Water use and consumption can be defined differently. Water use is also called water withdrawal, defined as water diverted or extracted from a surface water or groundwater source. Water consumption is described as water that has been permanently removed from the environment because it was used for products or crops, or consumed by livestock or people. (“Use, withdrawal and consumption of water”). Water is considered a renewable resource only if it has the possibility of replenishing its supply. Due to the high demand for consumer goods, food and livestock, the consumption of irrigated water has increased to a certain extent. where it is not capable of replenishing itself, consumption linked to irrigation is the main responsible for the drainage of underground aquifers, lakes and rivers. Because our bodies are 70% water, it is essential that we have clean, safe drinking water. to survive. Unfortunately, access to clean water is not always possible in poor and underdeveloped countries and regions. The lack of drinking water in the world is one of the obstacles to human development. did not have access to a supply of drinking water, for cooking and washing. This problem largely stems from the failure of politicians to fund programs that will ensure the supply of clean water to the areas that need it most. Fortunately, over the past twenty years, this issue has become the focus of concern for the United Nations and several human rights organizations. This new initiation...... middle of paper ......s (Sohns and Crowder 90-101). However, I believe that CMSPs should draw more attention to the increasing acidification of the world's oceans. As I mentioned earlier, degrading the oceans' ability to process carbon dioxide is paramount if we are to perpetuate our society. Works Cited Postel, Sandra. “Maintain fresh water and its dependencies. » State of the World 2013: Is sustainability still possible? : a report from the Worldwatch Institute. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2013. Print. Sohns, Antonia and Larry Crowder. “Sustainable fisheries and seas: preventing ecological collapse.” » State of the World 2013: is sustainability still possible? :a report from the Worldwatch Institute. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2013. 90-101. Print."Water use, withdrawal and consumption." GRACE Communications Foundation. Np, and Web. April 1. 2014. .