Freshwater

Freshwater makes up only about 2.5% of the world’s total water resources and most of this is locked up in permanent ice or snow or in deep groundwater aquifers.

The provision of freshwater to dry areas that otherwise could not sustain human habitation or agricultural use is a major demand on the world’s freshwater supply. 70% of global freshwater consumption is used in agriculture with most of this taken for irrigation.

As the world needs to increase food production for a growing population, so the demand on freshwater for agricultural consumption will also grow.