9781422274569

W ater is an essential com- ponent for humans as well as animals. Thus, it is important to save water for the future. Rapid climate change is drastically altering weather patterns around the world and affecting the quantity as well as the quality of water resources. Pollution, population explosion, and urbanization are other major factors putting stress on the available fresh- water resources. The treatment of dirty water consumes huge amounts of energy in the form of electricity and fuel. By conserving and using freshwater ef- ficiently, humans could save a lot of energy that is utilized for water treat- ment and transportation. They could also avoid a potential water crisis in the future when the demand for water would exceed its supply considerably. INTRODUCTION

Importance of Water Only a marginal quantity of the total water available on earth is drinkable or usable for agricultural, industrial, and domestic pur- poses. The consumption of freshwater has increased ten times since 1900, whereas its supply is gradually decreasing due to glob- al warming. If water is not conserved in the present, we may face a severe water crisis in the future.

CLIMATE CHANGE: Problems and Progress

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