will there be scarcity of drinking water on the earth?

Answer 1

It all depends upon when you are talking about, because if you mean tomorrow then no, but it you are talking about in 1000 years then without an advancement in water purification techniques then yes. This would be based upon the fact that we are contaminating water at an increasing rate without replenshing the stores with "clean" water.

Answer 2

There is a scarcity of safe drinking water in many parts of the world right now. (See link) If profit-driven corporations have much to do with it, they will make sure that there is a scarcity of safe drinking water so that they can make a profit.

See what Coca-Cola has done in India.

Answer 3

Drinking water is fresh water that is safe to drink. Much of the populated earth already has a scarcity of drinking water.

Answer 4

There already are places that have a scarcity of drinking water. For instance, in the pershian gulf, some countries are doing seawater desalinization. There are many places in africa and south asia where SAFE drinking water free of disease-causing bacterial or chemical contamination is scarce.

Overall, most water on the earth is ocean, salty, deep underground or frozen in snow, glaciers or permafrost. So, in a sense, easily accessible fresh water has always been relatively scarce. There is a tradeoff between soil fertility, rainfall and sunlight. Soaking wet places have less sunlight, lower soil fertility and may be infested with diseases or poisonous or dangerous wildlife. Places with less rainfall have more sunlight, fertile soil and less dangerous wildlife but may lack sufficient water for agriculture. Therefore, many of the places that have been cradles of civilization are river valleys because rivers restore fertility, and provide water to otherwise dry places.

Its easier to provide drinking water than it is water for industry and agriculture. Most fresh water in the world today is used for agriculture. Oftentimes, in countries that are corrupt or highly skewed in terms of wealth and power, a few key industries or cash crop plantations use or pollute most of the water leaving little for the majority of people. For instance, the oil industry drilling industry in Nigeria has caused massive pollution in the Niger river delta.

Many arid countries import water indirectly by importing water-intensive produts like wood products, paper products, clothing fibers or foodstuffs.

Global warming is expected to make drinking water more scarce because it will reduce snowfall and cause draughts. Many places rely on snowmelt to provide water during the dry season(s). Where I live, in western washington, will not experience a drinking water shortage although there are shifts in agriculture with climate change. Likewise, Europe, Southeast Asia and most of South America are not facing drinking water shortages.

In summary: globally, drinking water has always been scarce. Someplaces already face drinking water shortages, additional places will in the future due to pollution and climate change whereas other places, because of their weather and climate, will never face a drinking water shortage.

Answer 5

Yes, I believe eventually there will be and in some areas there already is. The first poster is uninformed and totally incorrect, because though the earth is made up of mostly water, most of it is not potable, and all the water that we have is already here. Think about it.

Answer 6

the earth is 2/3 water will will run out of dirt first

Answer 7

That is an excellent question. I believe we're heading in that direction. In American most don't realize how good we have it.