Looking at an image of Earth from space, it’s difficult to understand how anyone could claim that water is in short supply. Seventy-five percent of our planet’s surface is covered with water, for an estimated 326 million trillion gallons. That’s 326 with eighteen zeros after it – an almost inconceivable number. But the mere presence of hydrogen and oxygen together does not automatically lead to water. H₂O is the byproduct of other natural processes, and conditions have to be perfect for it to remain liquid.

If we consider the known universe, we find that liquid water is incredibly rare. Some scientists believe that H₂O molecules are the third most plentiful in space, but only in frozen and gaseous form. Recent studies by NASA suggest that ice exists on the surface of Mars in the form of thick glaciers hidden by a layer of rock and debris. The reason scientists are so keen to find extra-terrestrial liquid water is the fact that life cannot exist without it. Earth is the only known planet with liquid H₂O.

Similar to Earth, our bodies and cells are largely composed of water. And though the planet surface holds a vast quantity, very little of it can be consumed or used by humans. Only three percent is fresh; the rest is salt water. Of that small amount of fresh water, nearly two thirds is locked up in glaciers and ice packs. The other third is in the ground in aquifers. An infinitesimally small amount is on the surface, in liquid form, and accessible – just 3/10 of one percent. Of that even smaller amount, eleven percent is in swamps. Lakes and rivers contain the rest of the accessible fresh water – two and eighty-seven percent respectively.

The impacts of climate change is endangering most of the world’s fresh water supply. Without getting into the pollution of fresh water (I’ll cover that issue, along with dead zones, toxins, etc., in a later post) we can measure industrial farming’s rapid depletion of aquifers, and it’s unsustainable. Underground water takes thousands of years to replenish. Yet in some parts of this country, agriculture has drained major aquifers in fewer than one hundred years.

When looking at images of a blue planet it’s easy to become complacent. Most of us in the U.S. pay very little, if anything, for access to water. If it costs us nothing to use, then we have little incentive to conserve. We take it for granted. It’s too easy to use it without conscience. Let’s take a hard look before it’s too late.

Check out our post from yesterday on a similar topic – Where Does LA Water Come From?

Next week, on July 21, 2009, the Los Angeles Council District 11 Empowerment Congress Environmental Committee will host the Wise Water Use Expo to be held in Mar Vista (Los Angeles). Kevin will present this material, and much more, with fellow presenters including Ed Begley Jr.

related posts:

• July 15, 2009 -- where does L.A. water come from? (1)
• October 7, 2009 -- the valley Hannity forgot (2)
• September 17, 2009 -- from industrial age to sustainable age (1)
• September 16, 2009 -- branding sustainability (0)
• July 25, 2009 -- Wise Water Use Expo (6)