Page 15 - Water Every Drop Counts
P. 15

WATER THAT WE DRINK


               Drinking water, or potable water, is water
               that is pure enough  to be consumed  or
               used with low risk of  immediate or long
               term harm.

               Over large parts of the world, human
               populations  lack adequate access to
               potable water and are forced to use water
               from contaminated sources Globally, only
               34% of  the rural population has water
               piped directly to  their homes. 8 out  of
               10 people  without access to improved
               drinking water live in rural areas.

               The 2011 Census  of India data shows
               that 20% of Indian  households  have  to
               travel more than half a kilometer to fetch
               drinking water. It also reported that over
               20% of Indians get their water from unsafe
               sources.





            TOP 10 FRESHWATER CONSUMERS
            (mil. cu. mts. per year)
          CHINA (1,368,004)                                          Household

                                                                               WATER CONSUMPTION
                                                                      Industry
                                                                                    IS IT SUSTAINABLE?
          INDIA (1,144,605)
                                                                     Agriculture
                                                                     Cereals
                                                                              Consumption of water across the
                                                                              world is doubling every 20 years,
          U�S� (821,354)
                                                                              which is more than twice the rate
                                                                     Meat     of human population growth.
          BRAZIL (335,374)
          RUSSIA (270,490)
                                                                              Pollution  and  over-extraction  in
          INDONESIA (270,490)
          PAKISTAN (199,429)                                         Other    many regions of the world has
                                                                     (milk,
          MEXICO (197,425)                                           eggs,    reduced the supplies of water.
          JAPAN (174,779)                                            fruits,
                                                                     oils, nuts,
          NIGERIA (157,336)                                          sugar
                                                                     rubber,   During  the  last  70  years,  the
                                                                     and
                                                                     more)    global population has tripled
                                                                              but water withdrawals  have
                                                                              increased over six times.
          Largest Net Importers and     U�K�     BRAZIL
          Exporters of Virtual Water
          (in crop, animal and industrial products)  GERMANY  AUSTRALIA
                                       ITALY  Top Importers  Top Exporters  U�S�
                                      MEXICO     ARGENTINA
                                       JAPAN     INDIA
          120,000   80,000    40,000       0    0        40,000     80,000
          million m /yr
                3

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