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Essay / Water Pollution Essay: Water is the Fountain of Life
As low as 3% already is, only a smaller percentage is available for human use. Of this 3% of fresh water, 2% is stuck in glaciers, leaving 7.125 billion people sharing 1% of Earth's water. This 1% constitutes the only usable water on Earth. About 70% of the usable water on Earth is used for agricultural irrigation; whose leaky pipes and incorrect watering methods waste 60% of this water. Additionally, pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture often flow into local freshwater supplies, polluting them. As a result, around 1.1 billion people do not have access to water, and for at least one month per year, an additional 2.7 billion people struggle to find water. Not only is water difficult to find for many, but the water found there is often polluted. For an additional 2.4 billion people, poor sanitation is a problem that puts them at risk.