Ecology
“By the year 2025, it is predicted that water withdrawal will increase by
50 per cent in developing countries and 18 per cent in developed countries”, says the report. “Effects on the world’s ecosystems have the potential to dramatically worsen the present situation…”.
The report describes a vicious circle unleashed by growing water demand. By depleting and polluting rivers, lakes and wetlands, we are destroying ecosystems which play an essential role in filtering and assuring freshwater resources.
In the United States, 40 per cent of water bodies assessed in 1998 were not deemed fit for recreational use due to nutrient, metal and agricultural pollution. Furthermore, only five out of 55 rivers in Europe are considered pristine, according to the report and, in Asia, all rivers running through cities are badly polluted. Sixty per cent of the world’s 227 largest rivers are severely fragmented by dams, diversions and canals leading to the degradation of ecosystems.
“By the year 2025, it is predicted that water withdrawal will increase by
50 per cent in developing countries and 18 per cent in developed countries”, says the report. “Effects on the world’s ecosystems have the potential to dramatically worsen the present situation…”.
The report describes a vicious circle unleashed by growing water demand. By depleting and polluting rivers, lakes and wetlands, we are destroying ecosystems which play an essential role in filtering and assuring freshwater resources.
In the United States, 40 per cent of water bodies assessed in 1998 were not deemed fit for recreational use due to nutrient, metal and agricultural pollution. Furthermore, only five out of 55 rivers in Europe are considered pristine, according to the report and, in Asia, all rivers running through cities are badly polluted. Sixty per cent of the world’s 227 largest rivers are severely fragmented by dams, diversions and canals leading to the degradation of ecosystems.