Is Water Running Out on Earth?

• The total volume of water on Earth remains virtually unchanged. Water does not disappear; instead, it moves through a continuous and dynamic system known as the hydrological (water) cycle:

  Ocean → Evaporation → Atmospheric Vapor → Precipitation → Surface and Groundwater Flow →Ocean

  Earth contains approximately 1.4 billion cubic kilometers of water. This is distributed as follows:

  - 97.5% resides in the oceans as saltwater

  - 2.5% is freshwater, the majority of which is trapped in glaciers, polar ice caps, or stored in

  underground aquifers

  Despite this abundance, only a small fraction of Earth’s freshwater is readily accessible for human, agricultural, and industrial use.

  Water is continuously recycled:

  - Precipitation replenishes surface water bodies and aquifers

  - Evaporation and transpiration return water to the atmosphere

  - This closed-loop system has functioned for billions of years

  Advancements in technology have enabled the purification and reuse of water, including wastewater treatment and desalination of seawater. However, these processes are often expensive and energy-intensive, limiting their widespread application.

  So, Is Water Disappearing?

  No — the Earth’s water is not vanishing.

  But clean, accessible freshwater is becoming increasingly scarce in many regions due to overuse, pollution, population growth, and climate change.

  The real crisis is not the quantity of water, but the availability and equitable distribution of usable water resources.

  The Disappearing Act: Why Usable Water Is Becoming Scarce

  Water Is Not Disappearing — But Access to Freshwater Is

  While the Earth retains a constant volume of water — approximately 1.4 billion cubic kilometers — only about 0.8–0.9% is accessible freshwater. The vast majority is either saline or locked in glaciers and polar ice caps, rendering it unavailable for human or ecological use.

  Groundwater: Essential, Yet Vulnerable

  Groundwater, although invisible, is a critical freshwater source — widely used for drinking water,

  agriculture, and industry. However, growing pressures threaten its long-term viability.

  Why Are Groundwater and Surface Water Becoming Unusable?

  Water does not disappear from the planet, but it can become depleted, polluted, or physically

  inaccessible. When this occurs, water is functionally “lost” to both human use and natural ecosystems.

  Key Drivers of Water Scarcity

  1. Overextraction

  -Groundwater is being withdrawn faster than it can naturally recharge

  -Result: declining water tables, drying wells, and aquifer collapse

  - Regions at risk: Middle East, India, North America

  2. Pollution

  -Aquifers are contaminated by agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, leaking landfills, and

  untreated sewage

  -Remediation is extremely costly, and often not feasible

  3. Land Use and Urbanization

  -Impermeable surfaces (asphalt, concrete, buildings) prevent rainwater infiltration

  - This significantly reduces groundwater recharge potential

  4. Climate Change

  - Alters precipitation patterns and increases evapotranspiration

  -Leads to more frequent and prolonged droughts

  - Less rainfall percolates into aquifers and reservoirs

  5. Saltwater Intrusion (in Coastal Zones)

  -Excessive groundwater pumping near shorelines reduces freshwater pressure

  -Saltwater infiltrates aquifers, rendering them unfit for consumption or irrigation

  Surface Water Challenges

  1. Pollution

  - Runoff from agriculture, industry, and sewage contributes to nutrient loading

  -Triggers algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and aquatic ecosystem collapse

  2. Desiccation (Drying of Rivers and Lakes)

  - Reduced precipitation and increased demand shrink rivers and lakes

  -Overuse for irrigation can deplete entire water bodies (e.g., Colorado River, Aral Sea)

  3. Dams and Diversions

  - Disrupt natural hydrological flows

  - Fragment habitats and impair water quality downstream

  4. Overconsumption

  - Population growth and intensive agriculture stress surface water systems beyond sustainable

  limits

  Summary

  Water is not lost to space — but usable freshwater is:

  - Extracted faster than it replenishes

  - Contaminated beyond recovery

  - Blocked from recharge by urban infrastructure

  Strategic Solutions

  A sustainable water future depends on:

  - Protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems

  - Efficient and equitable water management

  - Advanced treatment and reuse technologies

  - Robust governance, enforcement, and policy frameworks

  Case Study: Ice Rink Water Usage in North America

  -A single standard ice rink consumes approximately 1.2 million liters (~300,000 gal) of freshwater per season

  - With an estimated 10,000 to 12,500 ice sheets in North America, total seasonal consumptionreaches:

  → 12–15 billion liters (~3-4 million gal) of freshwater

  → Equivalent to 4,800–6,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools

  ✅ Lex Aqua’s Contribution to Sustainability

  Lex Aqua Closed-Loop Water Treatment enables ice rinks to recycle and reuse water, dramatically reducing freshwater consumption.

  Potential Impact (if adopted industry-wide):

  -12–13 billion liters (~3 million gal) of freshwater saved annually

  - Nearly 100% reduction in seasonal water usage by ice rinks

  Lex Aqua: Advancing Sustainable Water Stewardship in the Ice Rink Industry

  Our mission is to make high-performance ice possible, without compromising the planet’s most precious resource.