Water may seem to be the most abundant resource available on Earth. But the reality is that 97 percent of all water is saltwater, 2 percent is held in snow and icebergs and only 1 percent is freshwater. More and more demands are being placed on this 1 percent of the world’s water that is available for human use. The world’s population is growing at such a rate that by 2025, the United Nations predicts that more than 2.7 billion people will face severe shortages of fresh water.
An estimated one-third of the world’s population already lives in areas with water shortages. In developing countries, this translates into 1.1 billion people lacking access to safe drinking water. In developed countries shortages are being felt through restrictions on water use.