Groundwater: A Threatened Resource

Of the limited volume of freshwater available to us, some 97 per cent (excluding permanently frozen water) is stored underground. More than 1500 million people rely on this groundwater for their drinking water. Farmers all over the world use it to irrigate their crops. In arid areas, where rainfall is low, groundwater may be the only source of water for the human population. As populations grow, the pressure on groundwater resources increases. It is also being polluted by poor sanitation systems and chemical fertilizers. This publication explains the importance of groundwater and actions that can be taken to protect it.