Why are there water shortages when the amount of water in the environment is constant?

Answer 1

The problem is that the amount of fresh water is very small, compared to the vast volume of the earth's oceans. And, the fresh water is not where the people are, unfortunately. This calls for water treatment and distribution systems, common enough in North America and Europe, but not found in the developing world, and quite expensive to design and construct. Pollution also has rendered much fresh water unuseable!!

Answer 2

Nature has developed a varied assortment of ecosystems on Earth, from oceans to forests to deserts to frozen tundras, and everything in between. Each has a different amount of available water associated with it. If a community is built in a desert, it is safe to assume that community will need water; more water, in fact, than is available in the desert. So water will be piped in from a more abundant source, say a nearby lake. If more water is pumped out than can be replaced at the lake, a water shortage will begin to occur around the lake. If the piping system fails, a water shortage will begin in the desert community. This is one example of how water shortages can occur.

Answer 3

Because the population is growing. That causes increased pollution which means less clean water, and if there are more people, we need more water. That, combined with a constant size water supply means a shortage.

Answer 4

While the total amount of global water may remain constant, its distribution does not.

The percentage of water that is fresh/ salty, clean/ sewage, liquid/ frozen is in a constant state of flux.

Answer 5

The water for next year depends on the snow pack in the mountains.

Answer 6

Also with the different types of water fresh/salty is the ability to bring that water to where you need it, some places like in Africa.

Answer 7

the shortage is DRINKABLE water.