Currently, water, especially fresh water, is an extremely important strategic resource. Per last years water consumption in the world has increased, and there are fears that there will simply not be enough water for everyone. According to the World Commission on Water, today each person needs 20 to 50 liters of water every day for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene.

However, about a billion people in 28 countries around the world do not have access to so many vital resources. About 2.5 billion people live in areas with moderate to severe water stress. It is assumed that by 2025 this number will increase to 5.5 billion and will make up two-thirds of the world's population.

, in connection with the negotiations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic on the use of transboundary waters, made a rating of 10 countries with the largest reserves of water resources in the world:

10 Place

Myanmar

Resources - 1080 cubic meters km

Per capita - 23.3 thousand cubic meters. m

Rivers of Myanmar - Burma are subject to the country's monsoon climate. They originate in the mountains, but feed not on glaciers, but on precipitation.

More than 80% of the annual river supply is rain. In winter, the rivers become shallow, some of them, especially in central Burma, dry up.

There are few lakes in Myanmar; the largest of them is the Indoji tectonic lake in the north of the country with an area of ​​210 sq. km.

9 Place

Venezuela

Resources - 1,320 cubic meters km

Per capita - 60.3 thousand cubic meters. m

Nearly half of Venezuela's 1,000 rivers run off the Andes and the Guiana Highlands into the Orinoco, Latin America's third largest river. Its pool covers an area of ​​about 1 million square meters. km. The Orinoco drainage basin covers approximately four-fifths of Venezuela's territory.

8 Place

India

Resources - 2085 cubic meters km

Per capita - 2.2 thousand cubic meters. m

India has a large amount of water resources: rivers, glaciers, seas and oceans. The most significant rivers are the Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Krishna, Narbada, Mahanadi, Kaveri. Many of them are important as sources of irrigation.

Eternal snows and glaciers in India occupy about 40 thousand square meters. km of territory.

7 Place

Bangladesh

Resources - 2,360 cubic meters km

Per capita - 19.6 thousand cubic meters. m

There are many rivers flowing in Bangladesh, and large rivers can flood for weeks. Bangladesh has 58 transboundary rivers, and the issues arising from the use of water resources are very acute in discussions with India.

6 Place

Resources - 2,480 cubic meters km

Per capita - 2.4 thousand cubic meters. m

The United States occupies a vast territory with many rivers and lakes.

5 Place

Indonesia

Resources - 2,530 cubic meters km

Per capita - 12.2 thousand cubic meters. m

On the territories of Indonesia, a fairly large amount of precipitation falls all year round, because of this, the rivers are always full-flowing and play an essential role in the irrigation system.

4 Place

China

Resources - 2 800 cubic meters km

Per capita - 2.3 thousand cubic meters. m

China has 5-6% of the world's water reserves. But China is the most populous country in the world, and its water distribution is extremely uneven.

3rd place

Canada

Resources - 2,900 cubic meters km

Per capita - 98.5 thousand cubic meters. m

Canada is one of the richest countries in the world with lakes. The Great Lakes (Upper, Huron, Erie, Ontario) are located on the border with the United States, connected by small rivers into a huge basin with an area of ​​more than 240 thousand square meters. km.

Less significant lakes lie on the territory of the Canadian Shield (Big Bear, Big Slave, Athabasca, Winnipeg, Winnipegosis), etc.

2nd place

Russia

Resources - 4500 cubic meters km

Per capita - 30.5 thousand cubic meters. m

Russia is washed by the waters of 12 seas belonging to three oceans, as well as the inland Caspian Sea. On the territory of Russia, there are over 2.5 million large and small rivers, more than 2 million lakes, hundreds of thousands of swamps and other water resources.

1st place

Brazil

Resources - 6,950 cubic meters km

Per capita - 43.0 thousand cubic meters. m

The rivers of the Brazilian Highlands have significant hydropower potential. The largest lakes in the country are Mirim and Patos. Main rivers: Amazon, Madeira, Rio Negro, Parana, São Francisco.

Also list of countries by total renewable water resources(based on the CIA Directory of the World).

Water is life. And if without food a person can hold out for some time, then without water it is almost impossible to do this. Since the heyday of mechanical engineering, the manufacturing industry, water began to become polluted too quickly and without much human attention. Then there were the first calls about the importance of the preservation of water resources. And if, in general, there is enough water, then the reserves of fresh water on the Earth make up a negligible fraction of this volume. Let's deal with this issue together.

Water: how much is it, and in what form does it exist

Water is an important part of our life. And it is she who makes up most of our planet. Humanity uses this extremely important resource every day: household needs, production needs, agricultural work and much more.

We used to think that water has one state, but in fact it has three forms:

• liquid;
• gas / steam;
• solid state (ice);

In a liquid state, it is found in all water basins on the Earth's surface (rivers, lakes, seas, oceans) and in the depths of the soil (groundwater). In a solid state, we see it in the snow and ice. In the gaseous form, it appears in the form of clouds of steam, clouds.

For these reasons, it is problematic to calculate what is the supply of fresh water on Earth. But according to preliminary data, the total volume of water is about 1.386 billion cubic kilometers. Moreover, 97.5% is salty water(undrinkable) and only 2.5% is fresh.

Fresh water reserves on Earth

The largest accumulation of fresh water is concentrated in the glaciers and snows of the Arctic and Antarctica (68.7%). Next comes groundwater (29.9%) and only an incredibly small part (0.26%) is concentrated in rivers and lakes. It is from there that mankind draws the water resources necessary for life.

The global water cycle changes regularly, and from this the numerical values ​​change as well. But in general, the picture looks like this. The main reserves of fresh water on Earth are in glaciers, snow and groundwater, its extraction from these sources is very problematic. Perhaps, not in the distant future, mankind will have to turn its gaze to these sources of fresh water.

Where is the most fresh water

Let's take a closer look at the sources of fresh water, and find out which part of the planet has the most of it:

• Snow and ice at the North Pole make up 1/10 of the total fresh water reserve.
• Groundwater today also serves as one of the main sources for water extraction.
• Lakes and rivers with fresh water are usually located at high elevations. The main reserves of fresh water on Earth are concentrated in this water basin. In the lakes of Canada, 50% of the total volume of freshwater lakes in the world is concentrated.
• River systems cover about 45% of the land area of ​​our planet. Their number is 263 water basin drinkable.

From the above, it becomes obvious that the distribution of fresh water reserves is uneven. Somewhere there is more of it, but somewhere it is negligible. There is another corner of the planet (besides Canada) with the largest reserves of fresh water on Earth. These are the countries of Latin America, 1/3 of the total world volume is located here.

The largest freshwater lake is Baikal. It is located in our country and is protected by the state, listed in the Red Book.

Lack of usable water

If we go from the opposite, then the mainland that most of all needs life-giving moisture is Africa. Many countries are concentrated here, and they all have the same problem with water resources. In some areas, it is extremely small, but somewhere it simply does not exist. Where rivers flow, the water quality is poor, it is at a very low level.

For these reasons, over half a million people do not receive water of the required quality, and, as a result, suffer from many infectious ailments. According to statistics, 80% of cases of diseases are associated with the quality of the fluid consumed.

Sources of water pollution

Water conservation measures are a strategically important part of our life. The supply of fresh water is not an inexhaustible resource. And, moreover, its value is small relative to the total volume of all waters. Let's consider the sources of pollution to know how you can reduce or minimize these factors:

• Wastewater. Numerous rivers and lakes were destroyed by sewage from various industrial industries, from houses and apartments (household slag), from agro-industrial complexes and much more.
• Burial household waste and technical items in the seas and oceans. This type of burial of rockets and other space devices that have served their time is very often practiced. It is worth considering that living organisms live in water bodies, and this greatly affects their health and water quality.
• Industry ranks first among the causes of water and ecosystem pollution in general.
• Radioactive substances, spreading through water bodies, infect flora and fauna, make water unsuitable for drinking, as well as the life of organisms.
• Leakage of oily products. Over time, metal containers in which oil is stored or transported tend to corrode, and therefore water pollution is a result of this. Atmospheric precipitation with acid content can affect the state of the reservoir.

There are many more sources, the most common of them are described here. In order for the reserves of fresh water on Earth to remain suitable for consumption as long as possible, it is necessary to take care of them now.

Water reserve in the bowels of the planet

We have already found out that the greatest reserve of drinking water is in glaciers, snows and in the soil of our planet. In the bowels of the earth, fresh water reserves are 1.3 billion cubic kilometers. But, in addition to the difficulties in obtaining it, we are faced with problems that are associated with its chemical properties... Water is not always fresh, sometimes its salinity reaches 250 grams per 1 liter. Most often, there are waters with a predominance of chlorine and sodium in their composition, less often - with sodium and calcium or sodium and magnesium. Fresh groundwater is located closer to the surface, and salt water is most often found at a depth of up to 2 kilometers.

What are we spending this most valuable resource on?

We waste almost 70% of our water supplying the agricultural sector. In each region, this value fluctuates in different ranges. We spend about 22% on all world production. And only 8% of the rest is spent on household needs.

More than 80 countries face a decline in the water supply of drinking water. It has a significant impact not only on social, but also on economic well-being. It is necessary to look for a solution to this issue now. Thus, reduced consumption of drinking water is not a solution, but only exacerbates the problem. Every year the supply of fresh water decreases to 0.3%, while not all sources of fresh water are available to us.

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Where is the most fresh water? (ranking of countries in the world)

Freshwater size is one of the most obvious indicators of wealth natural resources of a particular country. In the future, it is water that will become one of the most expensive and demanded resources on the world market, because even now in grocery stores a bottle of mineral water often costs more than a liter of gasoline! At the same time, it should be noted that many countries do not have their own freshwater areas at all, which puts them on the brink of an ecological disaster! Some futurists predict an increase in instability in the world and even war precisely because of and for this valuable, but very underestimated resource - water! The FOX-calculator project decided to figure out which countries in the world have the largest area freshwater area. To put it simply, which countries in the world have the largest reserves of fresh water.

Fresh water is the most valuable resource of the second half of the 21st century!

List of countries by freshwater reserves (size of freshwater area):

Fresh water is called water, which contains no more than 0.1% salt. It can be in the form of liquid, vapor, or ice. The total amount of water resources is 2.5-3%. But of these 3%, only 1% is available to humans.

Its distribution on the globe is characterized by unevenness. Europe and Asia, inhabited by 70% of the population, has only 39% at its disposal.

The main sources are:

• surface (rivers, streams, fresh lakes, glaciers);
• groundwater (springs and artesian springs);
• precipitation (snow and rain).

The largest stock is stored in glaciers (85-90%), especially in the Antarctic. Russia ranks second in the world in terms of fresh water reserves (first place belongs to Brazil). The bulk of water is concentrated in Lake Baikal: 80% of Russian reserves and 20% of the world.

The total volume of the lake is 23.6 thousand cubic kilometers. Every year it produces nearly 60 m 3 of water of extraordinary purity and transparency.

The problem of lack of fresh water

Recently, humanity has been facing the problem of scarcity. Over 1.2 billion people are now in constant deficit. According to forecasts, in a few decades more than 4 billion people will be in such conditions, since its number will be halved. The reasons for this situation include:

• pollution of water sources;
• population growth;
• melting of glaciers as a result of the greenhouse effect.

They are trying to restore this deficit in the following ways:

• export;
• the creation of artificial reservoirs;
• cost savings;
• artificial production of fresh water.

Methods for obtaining fresh water:

• desalination of sea waters;
• condensation of water vapor from the air in natural cold storage, most often in coastal caves.

With the help of condensation, huge reserves of water are formed, which fall under the seabed, where fresh springs often make their way.

Meaning and application

First of all, water is necessary for the Earth's ecosystems to function normally. Water creates and maintains life on Earth, plays the role of a universal solvent, takes part in all chemical reactions occurring in the human body, shapes the climate and weather.

The human body contains 70% water. Therefore, it must be constantly replenished: without it, a person cannot live for more than 3 days.

The bulk of water resources are used agriculture and industry, and only a small part (about 10%) goes to consumer needs.

Recently, consumption for household needs has increased sharply in connection with the introduction of automatic dishwashers and washing machines.

Composition

The water of rivers and lakes is not the same in its composition. Since it is a universal solvent, its composition depends on the composition of the surrounding soil and the minerals it contains. It contains dissolved gases (mainly oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide), various cations and anions, organic matter, suspended particles, and microorganisms.

Specifications

An important characteristic is its purity. The quality of the water depends on the acidity, pH, hardness and organoleptic properties.

The acidity of water is influenced by the content of hydrogen ions, and the hardness is influenced by the presence of calcium and magnesium ions.

Hardness is general, carbonate and non-carbonate, removable and irreparable.

The organoleptic properties of water depend on its smell, taste, color and turbidity.

The smell can be earthy, chloride, oil, etc. It is evaluated on a 5-point scale:

1. complete absence of smell;
2. the smell is almost not felt;
3. the smell can only be noticed if you specifically pay attention to it;
4. the smell can be easily noticed and you don't really want to drink it;
5. the smell is clearly audible, which refrains from the desire to drink it;
6. the smell is particularly potent, making it undrinkable.

Fresh water tastes salty, sour, sweet and bitter. He is also evaluated on a 5-point scale. It can be absent, very weak, weak, noticeable, distinct and very strong.

Evaluation of color and turbidity is carried out on a 14-point scale by comparison with the standard.

Water is inexhaustible and self-cleaning. Inexhaustibility is determined by its self-replenishment, which leads to the natural cycle of water.

What determines the quality of water?

Qualitative and quantitative analysis is used to study its properties. On its basis, the maximum permissible concentration is determined for each substance included in its composition. But for some substances, viruses and bacteria, the maximum permissible concentration should be zero: they should be completely absent.

The quality is influenced by:

• climate (especially the frequency and amount of precipitation);
• geological feature of the area (mainly the structure of the river bed);
• ecological conditions of the region.

Special devices are used for cleaning. But even with the use of the most recent modification of the treatment systems, some of the pollutants (about 10%) remain in the water.

Fresh water classification

Subdivided into:

• usual;
• mineral.

Depending on the mineral content mineral water classified into:

In addition, there are also artificial fresh waters, which are divided into:

• mineral and distilled;
• desalinated and thawed;
• shungite and silver;
• "Alive" and "dead".

Melt water has a number of beneficial properties. But it is not recommended to cook it by melting snow or ice from the street: it will contain benzopyrene, which belongs to organic carcinogenic compounds, which are characterized by the first class of hazard. Its source is car exhaust fumes.

Shungite water is formed when water passes through shungite (rock) deposits, acquiring medicinal properties. Artificial shungite water is also made, but its effectiveness has not been proven.

Silver water is formed by saturation with silver. It has bactericidal properties and is capable of killing pathogenic microorganisms.

"Living" and "dead" water exists not only in fairy tales. It is obtained by electrolysis of ordinary water and is used to treat various diseases.

• A leaking tap, from which tap water flows in a thin stream, will carry away 840 liters per day.
• Finland can boast of the cleanest water.
• The most expensive water is sold in Finland: 1 liter costs $ 90.
• If you put hot and cold water in the refrigerator, then the hot one will freeze faster.
• Hot water will put out a fire faster than cold water.
• At school, we taught that water can be in 3 states. Scientists distinguish 14 states of frozen water and 5 - liquid.
• Modern people need 80-100 liters of water a day. During the Middle Ages, 5 liters were enough for a person.
• A person drinks 2-2.5 liters per day, and 35 tons in a lifetime.

Water scarcity is making humanity more and more aware of itself. It is necessary to do something to change the situation, otherwise the inhabitants of the blue planet, most of which is occupied by water, will be left without drinking. In this case, all living things will have only 3 days of life.

, streams, fresh lakes, as well as in the clouds. According to various estimates, the share of fresh water in the total amount of water on Earth is 2.5-3%.

About 85-90% of fresh water reserves are contained in the form of ice.

In connection with the expanding pollution of water sources, population growth, and the development of new territories, the task of artificially obtaining fresh water arises. This is achieved by:

• desalination of sea water, including solar desalination
• condensation of water vapor from the air using deep sea water;
• condensation of water vapor in daily cold accumulators, in particular of natural origin, such as caves in coastal rocks.

The latter method creates huge natural reserves of fresh water in the coastal regions of a number of countries, which were recently discovered. Strata with fresh water sometimes go under the seabed, and fresh springs gush through cracks in impermeable layers.

The cost of fresh water is becoming so high that the production of refrigeration units has begun, receiving water from humid air by the condensation method.

The distribution of fresh water across the globe is extremely uneven. In Europe and Asia, where 70% of the world's population lives, only 39% of river waters are concentrated. Russia takes the leading place in the world in terms of surface water resources. The unique Lake Baikal alone contains about 1/5 of the world's fresh water reserves and more than 4/5 of Russia's reserves. With a total volume of 23.6 thousand km 3, about 60 km 3 of rare natural water is reproduced in the lake every year.

According to the UN, already now more than 1.2 billion people live in conditions of constant shortage of fresh water, about 2 billion suffer from it regularly, and by the middle of the XXI century. the number of people living with constant water shortages will exceed 4 billion people. Thus, we can talk about an impending global water crisis. In such conditions, it is likely that the main advantage of Russia in the "post-oil" period is water resources, and the production of water-intensive products may become the dominant direction of the development of the Russian economy.

see also

Notes (edit)

Links

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See what "Fresh water" is in other dictionaries:

Water - get an up-to-date promotional code for the Crossroads discount at Akademika or buy water at a discount at the Crossroads sale

fresh water- Natural water with mineralization up to 1 mg / l ... Geography Dictionary

fresh water- - EN freshwater Water having a relatively low mineral content, generally less than 500 mg / l of dissolved solids. (Source: LANDY) EN bathing freshwater Freshwater in which bathing is explicitly authorized or in which bathing is not prohibited and is traditionally practiced by a large number of bathers. Water ... Technical translator's guide

Evaporators, desalination plants. P. water has always been a basic necessity on ships in sea navigation, but mainly only for drinking. At present, the consumption of P. water on new ships has increased, thanks to the realized in practice ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

This term has other meanings, see Water (disambiguation). Water ... Wikipedia

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