Taking too much water from places like rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers happens when we use more water than can be replaced. This practice can cause serious problems for our environment, economy, and society.
Depleting Aquifers: Around 2.7 billion people live in areas where water is scarce. When too much water is taken from underground sources, the water levels drop. For example, in the Great Plains of the United States, some places have seen a drop of water levels by as much as 30 feet.
Loss of Wildlife: Taking too much water can harm animals that live in water. According to a group called the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), about 20% of freshwater species are at risk of disappearing because their homes are getting destroyed and water flow is being changed.
Wetland Loss: Wetlands are important because they clean water and provide habitats for wildlife. However, over half of the world's wetlands have disappeared since the 1700s mainly because water is being redirected for farming and city growth.
In places with irrigation, taking too much water can lead to soil becoming too salty. This happens when the balance is upset, causing high salt levels that make the land less fertile. The World Bank says that about 20% of irrigated land worldwide suffers from salt issues, which makes it harder to grow crops.
Farm Production Drops: Farms use a lot of water. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states that 80% of the world’s freshwater goes to agriculture. When too much water is taken, it can make watering crops less effective, which threatens food supplies and jobs.
Higher Costs: As water becomes less available, it gets more expensive to extract. For example, digging deeper wells for groundwater costs more money. The financial pressure is expected to increase by 60% by 2050 in places where water scarcity becomes a bigger problem.
Difficulty Accessing Clean Water: Many people struggle to access safe drinking water because of over-extraction. Reports reveal that 785 million people do not have basic drinking water services. In places where water is over-used, it can be even harder to get water because it costs more.
Water Conflicts: When water is scarce, it can lead to disagreements between communities and even countries. The World Bank points out that 40% of the world’s population lives in areas where water resources are shared by at least two countries, which can create tensions about who gets what water.
Taking too much water can worsen climate change. As groundwater levels fall, rivers and streams get less water, which can change local climates. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that dropping groundwater levels can lead to a 60% rise in surface temperatures because natural water bodies, which help keep temperatures steady, are lost.
Taking too much water from our sources leads to many issues that harm the environment, the economy, social fairness, and even the climate around the world. To fix these problems and make sure there is enough water for the future, we need to manage our water use wisely.
Taking too much water from places like rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers happens when we use more water than can be replaced. This practice can cause serious problems for our environment, economy, and society.
Depleting Aquifers: Around 2.7 billion people live in areas where water is scarce. When too much water is taken from underground sources, the water levels drop. For example, in the Great Plains of the United States, some places have seen a drop of water levels by as much as 30 feet.
Loss of Wildlife: Taking too much water can harm animals that live in water. According to a group called the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), about 20% of freshwater species are at risk of disappearing because their homes are getting destroyed and water flow is being changed.
Wetland Loss: Wetlands are important because they clean water and provide habitats for wildlife. However, over half of the world's wetlands have disappeared since the 1700s mainly because water is being redirected for farming and city growth.
In places with irrigation, taking too much water can lead to soil becoming too salty. This happens when the balance is upset, causing high salt levels that make the land less fertile. The World Bank says that about 20% of irrigated land worldwide suffers from salt issues, which makes it harder to grow crops.
Farm Production Drops: Farms use a lot of water. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) states that 80% of the world’s freshwater goes to agriculture. When too much water is taken, it can make watering crops less effective, which threatens food supplies and jobs.
Higher Costs: As water becomes less available, it gets more expensive to extract. For example, digging deeper wells for groundwater costs more money. The financial pressure is expected to increase by 60% by 2050 in places where water scarcity becomes a bigger problem.
Difficulty Accessing Clean Water: Many people struggle to access safe drinking water because of over-extraction. Reports reveal that 785 million people do not have basic drinking water services. In places where water is over-used, it can be even harder to get water because it costs more.
Water Conflicts: When water is scarce, it can lead to disagreements between communities and even countries. The World Bank points out that 40% of the world’s population lives in areas where water resources are shared by at least two countries, which can create tensions about who gets what water.
Taking too much water can worsen climate change. As groundwater levels fall, rivers and streams get less water, which can change local climates. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that dropping groundwater levels can lead to a 60% rise in surface temperatures because natural water bodies, which help keep temperatures steady, are lost.
Taking too much water from our sources leads to many issues that harm the environment, the economy, social fairness, and even the climate around the world. To fix these problems and make sure there is enough water for the future, we need to manage our water use wisely.