Water Resources: Agriculture, the Environment, and Society

This paper analyzes consumption of water by individuals agriculture and energy production by assessing the status of water resources. Furthermore it examines the relationship between water availability and biodiversity. The availability and quality of fresh water has become a major international problem. Limited water resources and inefficient water use combined with a rapidly growing population endanger the worlds finite fresh water supply. In many parts of the world per capita freshwater resources available for food production and for other human needs are declining and are becoming scarce in the arid regions. In fact agricultural productions account for approximately 87% of the worlds freshwater consumption. Moreover most of human activities adversely affect the quality of freshwater resources. Chemical and pathogen pollution of water supplies not only diminishes the quality of water but causes human health problems. Given these scenarios the freshwater problem can be prevented by 1) encouraging conservation and increasing efficiency of irrigation water by eliminating freshwater subsidies and encouraging developments in irrigation technologies; 2) giving farmers incentives to conserve water and soil resources; 3) controlling soil erosion; 4) protecting forests and other biological resources; and 4) preventing water pollution.