Freshwater: what's at stake, what we're missing, what we're losing, what it's worth

Freshwater Status

Oceans cover around 70% of the earth's surface and account for 97% of its water
Only 3% of all water on earth is freshwater
Most of this freshwater is locked away in the form of ice caps and glaciers located in the polar regions - though maybe not for much longer the way climate change is taking hold?
It won't change the fact that only about 1% of all water found on this planet is easily accessible for human use.

Water demand already exceeds supply in many parts of the world, and many more areas are expected to experience this imbalance in the near future.

Map showing coloured areas in the world suffering from physical or economic water scarcity. (Economic scarcity is where there is enough in-country water, but heavy investment needs to be made to ensure there will be no eventual physical water scarcity).
© IWMI 2006

1.1 billion people lack access to water and 2.6 billion lack adequate sanitation services; most of these billions are in the poorest countries.
An estimated 80% of people without access to an improved drinking water source live in sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Asia and Southern Asia.
In 2005, 1.6 million children under age 5 died from the consequences of unsafe water and inadequate hygiene. That's an average of 4500 every day.
It has been estimated that every individual needs between 20 to 50 litres of water free from harmful contaminants each and every day.
Sanitation coverage in developing countries is only half that of the developed world (49% as compared to 98%).
The vast majority of freshwater is used in agriculture
Agriculture claims 70% of all the freshwater used by humans - with rice, cotton and sugar among the thirstiest crops of all.
In fact it takes 3,000 to 5,000 litres of water to grow a kilo of rice
Population growth alone will push an estimated a further 17 countries, with a projected population of 2.1 billion, into water-short categories within the next 30 years.
By the year 2025, 48 countries will be affected by water stress or scarcity - affecting around 35% of the projected global population in that year.

On average freshwater species populations fell by about 50% between 1970 and 2000, representing a sharper decline than measured in either terrestrial or marine biomes.
Since 1900, more than 50% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared.
In many parts of the world, 30 to 40% of our fresh water goes unaccounted for due to water leakages in pipes and canals and illegal tapping.

Dams and other infrastructure have cause the fragmentation of 60% of the large river systems in the world.
Only 64 of the world’s 177 large rivers (1,000km and longer) remain free-flowing, unimpeded by dams or other barriers.
There are more than 45,000 large dams in over 150 countries
About 1500 are currently under construction.
Some 40 to 80 million people have been displaced by dams worldwide
(But not all dams are bad, it depends how and where they are built)

The average value of a wetland for recreation, flood control and storm buffering is $492 and $464 per hectare per year respectively.
Restoration of the Florida Everglades will cost an estimated $7.8 billion over 38 years.

^{References used:}