An adequate water supply is essential for ensuring food security and supporting the livelihoods of rural communities that produce food for a growing global population. Water is used for irrigating crops and for animal husbandry. Groundwater serves as the primary source for agriculture, especially in arid regions where surface water is scarce. Additionally, water is essential in food processing—for example, to wash soil from freshly harvested vegetables and to clean equipment after milking livestock. Consequently, large amounts of water are required for sanitation purposes.