Water for people.pdf - WHO Thailand Digital Repository

iiWe all depend on the same vital element:water. Diverse by its very nature, it is solid,Part II: A Look at the World’sFreshwater Resourcesvapour and liquid; it is in the air, on theEarth’s surface and within its ground –ever-changing, and giving shape to a dramaticrange of natural ecosystems.For the Earth’s inhabitants, diversity of theresource also means great disparities in wellbeingand development. As we degrade thequality of our water and modify the naturalecosystems on which people and life depend,we also threaten our own survival.Before we further explore the complexrelationship linking water and people, thispart provides a brief look at the current stateof the finite but dynamic and wonderfulresource that is freshwater.