Abstract
Water is one of the most widely distributed substances across the world’s surface and is crucial for a variety of aspects of human health, development and well-being as well as for the functioning of natural ecosystems. It has been recognised as a fundamental human right internationally and consequently needs to be managed both effectively and efficiently to ensure that global water needs are met. The distribution of water across the globe is uneven and the availability thereof becoming an increasingly major concern. The main water use sectors, grouped in terms of agriculture, industrial (includes industrial activities, mining and energy) as well as municipal/domestic, recreational and environmental water use, have an influence on water availability through physical water abstraction as well as through water degradation. Global challenges in terms of water availability and water use are highlighted. Focus is placed on the availability, distribution and use of freshwater resources on a global scale.
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du Plessis, A. (2017). Global Water Availability, Distribution and Use. In: Freshwater Challenges of South Africa and its Upper Vaal River. Springer Water. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49502-6_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49502-6_1
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