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Various Sources of Water

The most abundant chemical compound on Earth, water molecules consist of two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom. Because all plants and animals have a large percentage of water in their bodies and structures, no living being can survive without an external source of water. Climate change and the increase of human beings have put international attention on the need to conserve freshwater. Although some people lack safe drinking water, various forms of water cover more than two-thirds of the earth.

Surface Water
- According to the United States Geological Survey, more than 96% of water on Earth is ocean water, including seas, bays and gulfs. Fresh surface water includes lakes, streams, rivers, swamps and many other water sources. Rivers and lakes hold only 0.007% of the world's water. Surface water also refers to briny water where saltwater and freshwater meet, such as deltas, some marshes and some swamps.
Groundwater
- Water found under the ground can be freshwater or saltwater. Some groundwater is confined under rocks and soil. This water remains trapped until human beings intervene or a major geological shift occurs. Wells provide the only means of using this water. Wells also reach underground streams and unconfined aquifers, which the weather replenishes. The Groundwater Foundation states that more than half of the United States citizens use groundwater as their drinking water.
Atmospheric and Aerial Water
- Water remains in the atmosphere at all times. Sometimes people feel the water molecules in the lower levels of the atmosphere as humidity. Water evaporates from surface water sources and gathers in clouds. Eventually, this water enters the air as precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet and hail. It is possible to collect this rain water in rain barrels for immediate use to fill non-consumption needs or to sterilize it for bathwater or consumption. Pollution alters the rainwater composition, making it potentially unsafe to drink.
Frozen Water
- The vast majority of freshwater remains frozen in glaciers and ice caps. Glaciers, icebergs and the polar caps formed over hundreds or thousands of years, and they continue to change shapes and sizes in response to climate changes. Most of this water is not accessible because of economics or logistics, but some areas rely on glacier melt as they would snow melt. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, Washington state receives 470 billion gallons of glacier water every summer. Global climate change causes significant melting, which could lead to floods, freshwater shortages and the release of trapped pollutants.

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