How Does water supply affect land use? |
Water scarcity is both a natural and human-made phenomenon. There are significant freshwater resources on the planet but they are unevenly distributed and often unsustainably
managed. Globally, in the last century water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase. As a result an increasing number of regions are experiencing water stress which has the potential to impact on health, food production and the economy. |
How much water do we have?
More of the Earth’s surface is covered with water than land yet only a small proportion of this enormous reservoir is available as freshwater. There are approximately 1.4 billion cubic kilometres of water of which the vast majority, about 97.5%, is saltwater. Of the remaining balance, roughly 35 million cubic kilometres, much is locked up as groundwater or permanent snow and ice cover. In total, only about 0.5% of the planet’s water is available as an accessible resource of freshwater. |
So water do our farm animals and crops require?
litres/head/day
Dairy Cattle 70 Beef 45 Sheep 3 pigs 11 |