No matter who we are, where we are, or what we do, we are all dependent on water. It is the source of all life and we need it every day. But with the world's growing population and fast developing economies, the earth's water reserves are drying up fast.
As many as 7 billion people throughout the world could face a water shortage by 2050 if the present situation continues. By then, the global population is expected to reach 9.3 billion. Many big cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, will suffer severe water shortages.
But, how can the earth, of which about 70 per cent is covered by water, suffer a water shortage? Well, 97.5 per cent of our water resources are salty — it's sea water. And it requires huge amounts of money to make use of it for drinking and irrigation. On top of that, nearly 90 per cent of all the fresh water is ice and snow, and sitting in polar regions or on high mountains where it's difficult for people to reach.
China, because of its huge population, has less than a quarter of the world's average per capita water capacity.
And still, every day it is wasted. Taps are left running, showers last too long and summer water fights waste valuable drinking water. But more and more people are joining the fight to protect and save water.
It's terrible for us to be short of water. We should have a strong sense of preserving it and start from the little things and ourselves.
