Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 3

Research Paper Example Over population results in serious environmental degradation as the limited natural resources like water, soil, air and forest get depleted at a faster rate. As humans begin to overpopulate the earth, the planet may not be able to support their needs. In this paper, the impact of population growth on water resources will be analyzed. One of the primary natural resource that has been impacted with the demands of the growing population is water – a resource that is required for agriculture, industry and domestic use. Human beings need water for agriculture, industry and for domestic purposes like cooking, washing, sanitation and cleaning. As population increases, the demands for the limited water resources from each of these areas compete with each other. Although 70% of the earth is covered by ocean water, human beings rely on the limited fresh water supply for their needs, which accounts for only 2.5 % of the total water supply (Pluijm). According to the World Water Council, the total population of the world tripled in the 20th century, while the use of renewable water resources multiplied six times. This is primarily because of the irrigation requirements and demands of agriculture. Scientists have also confirmed that nearly half of the world’s population does not have enough water to drink and the demand for it is doubling every 21 years (â€Å"Cost of water†). According to the International Water Management Institute, the world’s leading body on fresh water management, the issue of water scarcity is increasing faster than expected (â€Å"Cost of water†). In China, the wells and rivers in the eastern part of the country have dried up and the authorities are trucking in water to the millions of people living in this region (â€Å"Cost of water†). In the following pages, the various issues concerning population growth and the resulting effect on the limited