freshwater resources
Rivers, lakes, aquifers
Freshwater resources are the supplies of water found in rivers, lakes, groundwater, and ice that contain low concentrations of dissolved salts—distinct from ocean water.
These sources support drinking water, agriculture, and ecosystems.
The term appears frequently in environmental policy and conservation contexts: Climate change threatens freshwater resources worldwide.
The region's freshwater resources are nearly depleted.
- lakeEnclosed body of freshwater
- irrigationArtificial water supply for agriculture
- aquiferGroundwater-bearing geological formation
- streamSteady continuous flow
- riverLarge flowing watercourse
snowmelt · pollution · rainwater harvesting · desalination · eutrophication · limnology · wetland · reservoir · spring · pond · watersheds · basins · drought conditions · wells · ecosystem restoration · rainfall · glacier · melting ice caps
- saltwater intrusion
freshwater resourcessaltwater
Ocean water, chemically speaking
seawater · saline water · marine resources · brackish water · brine
freshwater resourceswater scarcity
Insufficient freshwater for demand
water shortage · drought · desertification · water stress · desiccation
freshwater resourcescontaminated water
Impure liquid with pathogens
wastewater · toxic water · sewage · greywater · blackwater