Scientists managed to find out that more than 97.5% of all water reserves on earth are in the seas and oceans. This fact confirms the shortage of fresh water, which is only 2.5% of the world's reserves.
Relevance of the problem
More than half of uns alted water is in the polar caps and mountain glaciers in a "frozen" form. In addition, about 24% is located in groundwater. Analyzing this situation, we can conclude that there is a serious shortage of fresh water on our planet.
Lakes and rivers can be considered as an affordable and inexpensive source, in which no more than 0.01% of the world's water reserves are concentrated.
Because it is of special importance for the life of living beings, it is safe to say that moisture is the precious treasure of the Earth.
Circulation in nature
Water is in constant motion. After evaporation from the surface of water bodies, it accumulates in the atmosphere. At the moment when the vapor concentration becomesmaximum, there is a transition to a liquid or solid state, precipitation replenishes the reserves of lakes, rivers.
The total amount of moisture on our planet remains unchanged, it just goes from one state of aggregation to another.
Of the total precipitation, only 80% ends up directly in the ocean. What happens to the remaining 20 percent that falls on land? With their help, a person replenishes water sources.
It turns out that the moisture that remains on land has the ability to get into lakes (rivers), drain into reservoirs. In addition, it can seep into the soil, replenish groundwater sources.
Scarcity of fresh water occurs due to disruption of the connection between ground and surface water. Both sources have certain advantages and disadvantages.
Surface sources
The problem of fresh water shortage is connected with geological and climatic factors. From a climatic point of view, the frequency and amount of precipitation, as well as the ecological state in the region, are important. Precipitation brings a certain amount of insoluble particles: plant pollen, volcanic dust, fungal spores, bacteria, various microorganisms.
Industrial Emissions
The problem of scarcity of fresh water is partly due to the fact that the ocean contains a variety of s alts. In sea moisture there are anions of chlorine, sulfate, cations of potassium, calcium, magnesium. Industrial emissions also contribute to the atmosphere. They have organicsolvents and oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, which are the main cause of "acid rain". Its quality is negatively affected by the chemicals that are actively used in agriculture at the present time.
Geological factors
These include the structure of the riverbed. If it is formed by limestone rocks, then the water is hard and clear. If the base of the channel is granite, then the water is soft. Turbidity is given to it by suspended particles of inorganic and organic origin.
Soil springs
The solution to the scarcity of fresh water is a serious problem that deserves separate study and consideration. For example, part of the problem can be solved at the expense of groundwater. They are formed as a result of seepage of melt water into the soil. It dissolves the organic matter of the soil, is saturated with molecular oxygen. Deeper are clay, sandy, lime layers. Organic compounds are filtered in them, water is saturated with microelements and inorganic s alts.
Several factors influence the quality of ground sources:
- rain moisture quality is determined by acidity, s alt saturation;
- condition of the liquid in the underwater tank;
- specificity of the layers through which it passes;
- geological nature of the aquifer.
The reasons for the scarcity of fresh water can also be explained by the fact that groundwater contains magnesium, calcium, iron, sodium, as well as a slightthe amount of manganese cations. They form s alts together with bicarbonates, carbonates, chlorides, sulfates.
In the "oldest" ground sources, the concentration of s alts is so high that they have a s alty taste. The lack of fresh water on the planet forces us to look for technologies for cleaning groundwater sources. The life-giving moisture of high quality is located in the deep limestone layers, but this is an expensive pleasure.
The value of water
Why should a person look for ways to solve the shortage of fresh water? The reason is that this liquid is rightly called the basis of life on Earth. By itself, it has no nutritional value, but without it, the existence of living organisms is impossible.
In plants - up to 90% of water, and in the body of an adult it is about 65%. In individual organs, its amount differs significantly:
- in the bones up to 22%;
- in the brain - 75%;
- in the blood up to 92%;
- muscle 75%.
Talking about how the problem of fresh water shortage is solved, we note that it is an excellent solvent for many chemical compounds. It can be considered the environment in which life processes are carried out.
Main Functions
It moisturizes the air during breathing, helps regulate body temperature. It is she who delivers oxygen and nutrients to different cells of the human body, protects vital organs, removes waste and toxins from the body.
ForThe existence of a living organism is important constant and certain water content. With a change in its quantity, s alt composition, there is a serious violation of the processes of assimilation of food, hematopoiesis. Without fresh water, there is no regulation of heat exchange with the environment.
A person is seriously suffering due to the decrease in fresh water, he is able to go without it for only a few days. Reducing the amount of water in the body by 10-20% is a serious threat to life.
The shortage of fresh water leads to the need to reduce its consumption for technical needs. The result could be an outbreak of infectious diseases, which is why it is important to develop new ways to desalinate seawater.
Taking into account the intensity of work, external factors, cultural traditions, a person consumes from two to four liters of water per day. According to the World He alth Organization, no more than 5% of drinking water can be considered acceptable for human consumption.
A global problem
Reserves of fresh water on our planet can be considered as a single resource. In order to count on the long-term development of world reserves, a clear solution to global problems is required. The shortage of fresh water is especially relevant for regions in which there are no full-fledged and stable sources of fresh water. Surface and underground sources are in a deplorable state.
The main problems that negatively affect the quality of water bodies (lakes and rivers) are related to the following factors:
- insufficient cleaningdomestic wastewater;
- weak control of industrial effluents;
- loss and destruction of watersheds;
- irrational location of industrial enterprises;
- deforestation;
- bad farming.
The result is a violation of the natural balance of the water ecosystem, there is a threat to freshwater living resources, which causes a shortage of fresh water on earth.
Assessing the scale of the problem
Affects the state of water bodies, the presence of pesticides in water and the construction of dams, the creation of water facilities, irrigation projects.
Erosion, deforestation, siltation, and desertification also have a negative impact on ecosystems. Such problems arise because the public does not understand the seriousness of the wrong approach to water resources. Human economic activity, organized to the detriment of nature, creates a shortage of fresh water: problems and solutions - an urgent issue that has forced humanity to reconsider its attitude to aquatic ecosystems.
Ways to solve the problem
First of all, it is necessary to develop preventive measures that will avoid costly measures to clean up, restore, and develop fresh water resources.
Water that comes from a well, a municipal water supply network, must be pre-treated to meet hygiene standards.
Freezing
One of the ways to get fresh water isconsider freezing marine. It is this technique that is used in those regions where there is a serious lack of fresh water. What are the main disadvantages of such technology? Freezing is carried out at low temperatures, which implies significant energy costs. Due to the increase in energy prices, this method of obtaining fresh water can hardly be considered economical and rational.
Important aspects of the problem
In order to solve the problem of lack of fresh water, scientists propose to carry out a comprehensive wastewater treatment, building full-fledged treatment systems. Water quality can only be assessed if the results of its bacteriological and chemical analysis are available.
What are the main problems with water used by consumers? It may contain insoluble mechanical particles, rust, colloidal substances. They not only lead to rapid clogging of sewer and water pipes, but also negatively affect human he alth, provoke many infectious diseases.
Unpleasant taste, color, smell - all these are called organoleptic indicators that can affect the quality of drinking water. Some organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, and residual chlorine can be sources of such problems.
To improve the quality of drinking fresh water, it is also important to assess its bacteriological contamination. The cause of such processes are different microbes or bacteria. Part ofthey can endanger people's he alth, therefore, despite the presence of such drinking water, it should not be consumed.
Often, even the most harmless bacteria form organic products in the course of their life. When they interact with chlorine and bromine, carcinogenic and toxic compounds are obtained.
Among the factors that lead to a shortage of fresh water, one can name the pollution of water bodies. It means a decrease in their economic significance, biospheric functions that occurs when harmful substances enter. For example, power plants, industrial plants discharge heated water into rivers and lakes. Such a process is accompanied by an increase in water temperature, a decrease in the amount of oxygen, an increase in the toxicity of impurities, and a violation of biological balance.
In many regions, the main sources of fresh water are groundwater, which was previously considered the cleanest. As a result of human activities, many of these sources are polluted. Unfortunately, the degree of pollution is often so high that the underground water is undrinkable.
Conclusion
For various needs, mankind consumes a huge amount of fresh water. The main consumers are agriculture and industrial plants. Among the most water-intensive industries are the steel, mining, chemical, pulp and paper, and petrochemical industries. More than half of all water used by industrial enterprises is used for their needs. If not usedhigh-quality purification systems that allow you to reuse fresh water, in which case in a couple of years the shortage of fresh water will become a large-scale disaster.
Environmentalists and chemists are conducting serious research work aimed at finding the best ways to desalinate seawater. At present, innovative methods of drinking water purification are already being applied to reduce its losses.
In addition, special attention is paid to the installation of complete cleaning systems in industrial enterprises. Only with an integrated approach to all issues related to desalination and purification of sea water can we count on reducing the shortage of fresh water.
