| Abstract |
Almost all of the world’s water (97%) is found in oceans and seas and is salty. We cannot easily use salt water for our
daily needs. All animals and plants that live on land, including humans, need fresh water to drink. A very small amount (about 2.8%) of the world’s water is fresh water and most of it is not available for us to use. It is either frozen or trapped under the ground as ground water or found in the atmosphere or soil as water vapour. A very, very small amount, about 0.3%, is found in rivers and lakes – this is freshwater we can use! Just a drop in the bucket! Freshwater supplies are a critical issue for many Pacific Island countries. Not all islands within the Pacific region have the same sources of freshwater or equal access to freshwater. The soil and rock structure of each island or island group directly affects where freshwater will be found. Islands with no surface water rely on rainwater tanks or groundwater. On the low-lying islands coral atolls or limestone islands freshwater is available mainly from an underground freshwater lens.
(authors abstract)
|
