What is fresh water, and why do we need to protect it?

Fresh water supports all life on earth. Without water, we would not have the world we have today. Can you think of a time you forgot to water your garden or house plants? Without a drink, plants become droopy, brown, and will die if left long enough.

Humans also depend on freshwater resources for survival and personal wellness. Freshwater lakes and streams are often important sources of food. Humans cannot drink salt water, so the fresh water held in groundwater, lakes, streams, and ice are all we have.

Human cultures across the world build water into their value systems. Lakes may be areas of inspiration and sustenance, while springs offer space for gathering, and rivers serve as connections between different ecosystems.

Research has shown that human actions—through things like water and air pollution, climate change, and habitat modification—can negatively impact the quality of water and the health of ecosystems. Changes to lakes and streams have the potential to harm the organisms that depend on that water resource for a home, for food, as a water source, and for personal or cultural wellness.

By understanding factors like algal blooms and acid rain, we can start to understand how fresh water is at risk and what we can do to help it.