Freshwater Resources

• Freshwater resources include lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, reservoirs, wetlands and groundwater. These resources are aquatic systems which contain drinkable water or water that has very little salt content. Water is constantly produced through the hydrologic cycle which is a process that transports water from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface and oceans in the form of rain, snow or sleet. When water reaches the Earth's surface it is deposited directly into other bodies of water or it seeps into the land in order to create groundwater. This water eventually finds its way back into the atmosphere through the processes of transpiration by plants or evaporation that is caused by the sun.
  
  

Climate Change

• According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), changes in climate are going to strain many North American water resources. These strains are going to increase competition for freshwater resources and will affect the availability of water on a seasonable basis. This will result from an increase in water evaporation and the reduction of snowfall. Climate changes such as higher temperatures, increase in precipitation, a greater amount of evaporation and a late freezing cycle will also have a negative effect on freshwater sources. IPCC also expects future population growth in some parts of the United States (such as the west and southwest) to play a part with straining water resources as well.
  
  

Pollutants

• Pollution is another major issue that affects freshwater resources. Point sources of freshwater pollutants include industrial waste and sewage. Stormwater runoff or drainage also contributes to the pollution of freshwater. Many different types of chemical and bacterial substances such as oil, fertilizers, arsenic and yard waste give off elements and matter that mixes in with storm water which drains into lakes and streams without being treated. EPA has programs such as wastewater treatment facilities, pretreatment of waste at industrial facilities, carbon absorption, distillation and reverse osmosis that are used to help reduce water pollution. Once wastewater undergoes these processes it is typically used for agricultural or industrial purposes.
  
  

Freshwater Ecosystems

• Freshwater ecosystems provide the majority of available drinking water within the United States. These ecosystems also are used for providing food such as fish, recreational opportunities and transportation. Many organisms also thrive within freshwater ecosystems, including aquatic plants, invertebrates and amphibians. According to the EPA, freshwater species (such as mussels) are on the verge of becoming extinct. Factors such as agricultural and industrial waste, invading exotic species and the creation of dams and water diversions are the primary causes for the disruption of freshwater ecosystems.