The Importance of Fresh Water

As Robert Glennon reminds us in his book Unquenchable (p.79) about 96.5% of the 

earth's water is ocean water, another 1.7% is locked up in polar ice, and 1% is too brackish to drink.  That leaves just 0.8% in lakes, rivers, wetlands in the ground and atmosphere.  Which may sound like a lot if used so it would remain drinkable.  But when you factor in waste, pollution, the needs of agriculture and industry, etc. all affecting that water supply, these factors tell us why it is that today all around the world we are using available supplies significantly faster than they are being replenished.