 Fresh Water - a precious resource The Earth is covered with 30% land and 70% water. The majority of the water (97%) is salt water found in the oceans, while only 3% of the earth's water is fresh. Of this, only 1% is usable as the other 2% is locked in glaciers. This 1% of fresh water comes from lakes, rivers, and aquifers and the Earth’s ecosystem maintains this tiny percentage of water through natural recycling. Salt water contains by definition about 3.5% total dissolved solids. These total dissolved solids include chlorine, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Fresh water, by definition, contains less than 0.1% total dissolved solids. | |
Water that is considered fit for human consumption contains about 0.2 - 0.3% total dissolved solids. The earth operates as a massive natural desalination system. The sun evaporates water (mostly sea water) from the earth. The total dissolved solids in the ocean water are left behind as the water vapor escapes into the air and condenses or particulates in the atmosphere. The water is then stored in the atmosphere until it returns to the Earth as rain, ice, or snow. This is how the Earth receives its supply of fresh water. The water finally returns to the ocean and the process repeats. Thus, the Earth has the same amount of water that it always has and always will have. |  |
 | Securing Our Water The Earth is covered with 30% land and 70% water. The majority of the water (97%) is salt water found in the oceans, while only 3% of the earth's water is fresh. Of this, only 1% is usable as the other 2% is locked in glaciers. This 1% of fresh water comes from lakes, rivers, and aquifers and the Earth’s ecosystem maintains this tiny percentage of water through natural recycling. Salt water contains by definition about 3.5% total dissolved solids. These total dissolved solids include chlorine, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Fresh water, by definition, contains less than 0.1% total dissolved solids. |
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