Archive for Facts and figures

Erkin | August 12, 2011
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Water Facts – Children

Diarrhea remains in the second leading cause of death among children under five globally. Nearly one in five child deaths – about 1.5 million each year – is due to diarrhea. It kills more young children than AIDS, malaria and measles combined.

 

Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease. Diarrhea is more prevalent in the developing world due, in large part, to the lack of safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, as well as poorer overall health and nutritional status. Read more

Category: Facts and figures |
Erkin | August 9, 2011
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Did you know…? Facts and figures about pollution and degradation of water quality

Despite improvements in some regions, water pollution is on the rise globally.

  •  More than 80% of sewage in developing countries is discharged untreated, polluting rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
  • Many industries – some of them known to be heavily polluting (such as leather and chemicals) – are moving from high-income countries to emerging market economies. Read more
Category: Facts and figures |
Erkin | July 26, 2011
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The Water Cycle

Viewed from space, one of the most striking features of our home planet is the water, in both liquid and frozen forms, that covers approximately 75% of the Earth’s surface. Geologic evidence suggests that large amounts of water have likely flowed on Earth for the past 3.8 billion years—most of its existence.

Believed to have initially arrived on the surface through the emissions of ancient volcanoes, water is a vital substance that sets the Earth apart from the rest of the planets in our solar system. In particular, water appears to be a necessary ingredient for the development and nourishment of life.

 Earth is a water planet: three-quarters of the surface is covered by water, and water-rich clouds fill the sky. (NASA.)

Water, Water, Everywhere

Water is practically everywhere on Earth. Moreover, it is the only known substance that can naturally exist as a gas, a liquid, and solid within the relatively small range of air temperatures and pressures found at the Earth’s surface. Read more

Category: Article, Facts and figures |
Erkin | July 22, 2011
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Did you know…? Facts and figures about water footprints and virtual water

  • The water footprint of an individual, business or nation is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the foods and services consumed by the individual, business or nation. A water footprint is generally expressed in terms of the volume of water use per year.
  • Since not all goods consumed in one particular country are produced in that country, the water footprint consists of two parts: use of domestic water resources and use of water outside the borders of the country. The water footprint includes both the water withdrawn from surface and groundwater and the use of soil water (in agricultural production).
  • Virtual water is the water ’embedded’ in commodities. Producing goods and services requires water; the water used to produce agricultural or industrial products is called the virtual water of the product.
  • The global volume of virtual water flows related to the international trade in commodities is 1,600 Km³/yr.
  • About 80% of these virtual water flows relate to the trade in agricultural products, while the remainder is related to industrial product trade. Read more
Category: Facts and figures |
Erkin | July 20, 2011
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Did you know…? Facts and figures about bioenergy and agricultural water use

  • Around 10% of the total energy supply comes from biomass, and most of that (80%) comes from the ‘traditional’ biomass sources of wood, dung and crop residues.
  • Globally, irrigation water allocated to biofuel production is estimated at 44 km3, or 2% of all irrigation water. Under current production conditions it takes an average of roughly 2,500 litres of water (about 820 litres of it irrigation water) to produce 1 litre of liquid biofuel (the same amount needed on average to produce food for one person for one day). Read more
Category: Facts and figures |