Scientific Facts on Water Resources

Source document:
UNESCO-WWAP (2006)

• http://www.greenfacts.org/en/water-resources/index.htm
  
  

Level 1: Summary

Context - Water is essential for human survival and well-being and important to many sectors of the economy. However, resources are irregularly distributed in space and time, and they are under pressure due to human activity.

How can water resources be managed sustainably while meeting an ever increasing demand?

1. Introduction: pressures on water resources
2. Where and in what forms is water available on Earth?
3. How much freshwater is available in different countries?
4. How can human actions seriously affect water resources?
5. How can the growing demand for water be met?
6. How could water resources be developed sustainably?
7. Conclusions on water resources

This Digest is a faithful summary of the leading scientific consensus report
produced in 2006 by the UN World Water Assessment Programme (UNESCO-WWAP):
"The United Nations World Water Development Report" Learn more...

Level 2 - Details on Water Resources

• 1. Introduction: pressures on water resources
• 2. Where and in what forms is water available on Earth?
  • 2.1 How does water move from the atmosphere to the ground and back?
  • 2.2 How much freshwater is found at the Earth’s surface?
  • 2.3 How much freshwater can be found underground?
• 3. How much freshwater is available in different countries?
• 4. How can human actions seriously affect water resources?
  • 4.1 How are aquatic ecosystems threatened by sediment in water?
  • 4.2 How can different kinds of pollution affect water resources?
  • 4.3 What are the consequences of excessive water withdrawal?
  • 4.4 How is climate change affecting water resources?
• 5. How can the growing demand for water be met?
  • 5.1 Intercepting, diverting, storing and transferring water
  • 5.2 Water re-use
  • 5.3 Desalination
• 6. How could water resources be developed sustainably?
  • 6.1 What are the obstacles to sustainable water management?
  • 6.2 How could water be used more efficiently and sustainably?
• 7. Conclusions on water resources