Freshwater System

Fresh water (or freshwater) is any naturally occurring water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and
other total dissolved solids. Though the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does include
non-salty mineral-rich waters such as chalybeate springs. Fresh water may include water in ice sheets, ice caps,
glaciers, icebergs, bogs, ponds, lakes, rainfall, rivers, streams, and groundwater contained in underground
aquifers.

Water is critical to the survival of all living organisms. Many organisms can thrive on salt water, but the great
majority of higher plants and most mammals need fresh water to live.

Fresh water is not always potable water, that is, water safe to drink. Much of the earth's fresh water (on the
surface and groundwater) is to a substantial degree unsuitable for human consumption without some
treatment. Fresh water can easily become polluted by human activities or due to naturally occurring processes,
such as erosion.

Fresh water is a renewable and variable, but finite natural resource. Fresh water can only be replenished
through the process of the water cycle, in which water from seas, lakes, forests, land, rivers, and reservoirs
evaporates, forms clouds, and returns as precipitation. Locally, however, if more fresh water is consumed
through human activities than is naturally restored, this may result in reduced fresh water availability (or water
scarcity) from surface and underground sources and can cause serious damage to surrounding and associated
environments. Water pollution and subsequent eutrophication also reduces the availability of fresh water.

Fresh water habitats are classified as either lentic systems, which are the stillwaters including ponds, lakes,
swamps and mires; lotic which are running-water systems; or groundwaters which flow in rocks and aquifers.
There is, in addition, a zone which bridges between groundwater and lotic systems, which is the hyporheic zone,
which underlies many larger rivers and can contain substantially more water than is seen in the open channel. It
may also be in direct contact with the underlying underground water.

Preserving Freshwater System

Water is the basis of life, and on this planet only a tiny share—less than one percent of all water—is available for
nearly 7 billion people and a myriad of freshwater aquatic ecosystems. It's that tiny share of freshwater that we
have to use to meet all of our needs—irrigation, industry, drinking water, and sanitation—and the needs of
thousands, if not millions, of other species that we share the planet with.

1. Choose outdoor landscaping appropriate for your climate. Native plants and grasses that thrive on
natural rainfall only are best.
2. Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Because you’re saving hot water, you’ll also reduce
your energy bill. (More at "Bathroom Revamp: Savings by the Gallon.")
3. If you’re in the market for a toilet, buy a low-volume, ultra low-volume, or dual-flush model. (Read
Green Guide's "Toilet Buying Guide.")
4. Fix leaky faucets. All those wasted drops add up—sometimes to 10-25 gallons a day. (Learn more on the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's, or EPA's, WaterSense website.)
5. Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when full. When it’s time to replace them, buy a water-
and energy-efficient model. Remember, saving water saves energy, and saving energy saves water.
(Read Green Guide's "Dishwasher Buying Guide.")
6. Eat a bit less meat, especially beef. A typical hamburger can take 630 gallons to produce. (Learn more
about the water embedded in your food with National Geographic's "The Hidden Water We Use"
interactive.)
7. Buy less stuff. Everything takes water to make. So if we buy less, we shrink our water footprint.
8. Recycle plastics, glass, metals, and paper. Buy re-usable products rather than throw-aways, as it takes
water to make most everything.
9. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and washing the dishes. Shave a minute or two off your
shower time. Millions of people doing even the little things makes a difference.
10. Know the source of your drinking water—the river, lake, or aquifer that supplies your home. Once you
know it, you’ll care about it. You just won’t want to waste water.