Supplying Water

Water is a vital resource used for industrial, agricultural, residential, and municipal needs. However, only 2.5 percent of water on the Earth is fresh, and merely a third of that is accessible due to amounts stored in polar ice caps and glaciers. Water is considered a renewable resource as a result of the water cycle and is available in most regions with the proper technology. Rural areas of the world often draw their water by hand from any source available including wells, rivers, lakes, and collected rainwater. In the United States and other developed countries, however, more sophisticated methods are used to obtain water. The water supplying these countries is often treated and distributed to those industries, farms, and communities in need. The infrastructure necessary to supply water is expensive to build and maintain and a constant expense to both governmental entities and consumers. Infrastructure used to supply water, as well as government regulations, can contribute to a sustainable water supply.