-
Essay / The Importance of Fresh Water - 708
Water is a gift of nature and has been recognized as a basic human need for domestic, industrial and agricultural purposes where it plays a key role in development of an economy and as well as for the well-being of a nation. Water is an abundant natural resource that covers three-quarters of the earth's surface. History proves the importance of water in the sustainability of life and the development of civilization, because the origin and survival of humanity relies on water. Figure 1 Global availability of fresh water Although the earth is largely covered by water, almost 98% of the earth's water is salt water. from the ocean where it maintains a salt content too high for the water to be considered drinking fresh water; it is rather called brackish water. Less than one percent of fresh water is actually within human reach, as shown in the global water table above. As available fresh water is limited on earth, its demand is increasing day by day. The growing global population and agricultural, industrial and domestic activities around the world contribute to the depletion and pollution of fresh water resources, with most clean water resources being rapidly depleted around the world due to human consumption . The growing global population suggests that two-thirds of the population will lack sufficient fresh water by 2025. Asia, for example, is experiencing a water shortage that results from several factors, including demand for food , where 80% of Asia's fresh water resources are needed by this sector. The second factor outlined by Arjun Thapan, Special Senior Advisor to the ADB President on Infrastructure and Water, in an interview with ABC Australia is quick middle of paper...... any depletion of fossil fuels, hydrocarbons pollution and environmental degradation, as stated by Amitava Bhattacharyya in his article published in the International Journal of Environment and Sustainability. Solar energy has the greatest potential of all renewable energy sources because it is the best alternative source of heating energy. Although it is inexhaustible, clean and universally available, the use of solar energy is, however, more economical than the use of fossil fuels, especially in areas where water for daily use must be transported partly over very long distances and where other sources of energy are necessary. impossible. It can be used directly as thermal energy or converted into electrical energy by photovoltaic (PV) conversion or via a solar thermal power plant. Thus, it is classified into two categories called direct and indirect solar energy..