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Different Sources of Water

By Kendra Young; Updated April 19, 2018

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Some sources of water are obvious, like lakes and rivers, while others, like glaciers, are a bit more removed
from everyday experience. With so many people living near water, it sometimes seems unlikely that water
shortages could be a serious problem. Understanding the sources of water available for human use reveals
how limited freshwater actually is. Despite the overwhelming amount of water on earth, very little of it is
suitable for consumption. New research and technology are currently seeking answers to this dilemma.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

In addition to visible sources of water like oceans and rivers, vast quantities of water are stored as
groundwater and in polar ice.

Ground Water
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Ground water refers to any source of water that lies beneath the soil layer. Ground water can exist in the
soil itself or between rocks and other materials. Most communities obtain their water from underground
aquifers, or rock formations capable of holding large amounts of freshwater. Only 3 percent of the water on
earth is considered freshwater, with a mere 30 percent of that small amount being found as groundwater.
Pollution, seawater contamination and overuse threaten this valuable resource.

Surface Water

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Sources of surface water can include any above-ground collection of water such as rivers, lakes, ponds and
oceans. Some sources of surface water are also fed by underground aquifers. Surface water accounts for 80
percent of the water humans use.

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Ocean Water
Although ocean water makes up nearly 97 percent of all water on earth, it is not a viable source of potable
water unless salt and other impurities are removed. Desalination, the process by which salt is removed
from water, is a rapidly growing practice. While salt and other microscopic particles can be removed from
water in a variety of ways, the most promising method is through reverse osmosis. This process forces
saltwater through lters with microscopic pores that remove salt and other microbes. Reverse osmosis
requires large amounts of energy, making it a very expensive process.

Ice Caps and Glacial Melting

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Of the 3 percent of earth's water considered freshwater, 70 percent of that small amount is currently locked
in glaciers and ice caps. In theory, frozen glacial and ice cap water could be melted and used, but the amount
of energy needed to melt and transport vast quantities of ice make it economically impractical. Glaciers and
ice caps also play vitally important roles in the regulation of earth's climates and global temperatures,
making their preservation very important.
References
Environmental Protection Agency: Groundwater
Environmental Protection Agency: Surface Water Contamination
The Library of Congress: Science Referencs Services: Desalination

About the Author

Kendra Young has been a professional educator and science curriculum writer
since 2005. She also works as a faculty advisor and content reviewer for the
National Science Teacher’s Association. Young holds a Master of Education in
instructional design, and is completing a Master of Science in geology.

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