What is the percentage of water on earth? The reality behind a seemingly inexhaustible resource

We live on a planet that, seen from space, looks like a world of water. However, this abundance is deceptive. Although the percentage of water on Earth is high and covers most of the Earth’s surface, only a small fraction is actually available for human consumption.

In this blog we explore the reality of water on the planet, the increasing scarcity and how innovative solutions like GENAQ’s atmospheric water generators can make a difference.

70% of the planet is water, but how much of it is drinkable?

Approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, which may give the impression that it is an inexhaustible resource. But if we analyse the percentage of water on Earth in detail, we discover that 97.5% is salt water, present in oceans and seas.

This makes it unsuitable for human consumption or agricultural irrigation without expensive desalination processes. Only the remaining 2.5% is fresh water, and even then, not all of it is within reach.

Salt water vs. fresh water: the big difference

While salt water contains high concentrations of dissolved salts, fresh water has much lower levels, making it suitable for drinking, industrial and agricultural uses.

However, the transformation of salt water into fresh water requires complex and costly technologies, such as desalination, which has a considerable environmental impact.

Inaccessible freshwater

Of that small percentage of freshwater on Earth, about 70% is frozen in glaciers and ice caps. Another significant percentage is in deep underground aquifers. Only 0.3% of the world’s freshwater is in rivers and lakes and is directly accessible for human use.

Why is less and less water available?

Water scarcity is not only a geographical problem, but also the consequence of multiple factors:

• Climate change: modifying rainfall patterns and causing prolonged droughts.
• Population growth: the demand for water is constantly increasing.
• Pollution: rivers, lakes and aquifers are being polluted by industrial and agricultural waste.
• Inefficient management: waste and lack of adequate infrastructure aggravate the problem.

The water paradox: apparent abundance, real scarcity

This is the great paradox: we live on a planet covered with water, but we have less and less access to clean water. Knowing what percentage of water there is on Earth and how much of it is actually usable allows us to understand the magnitude of the challenge.

The water crisis is no longer a problem of the future, it is a present reality in many regions of the world. The solution lies in rethinking how we obtain and manage this essential resource.

GENAQ: generating water from air for a more sustainable future

Faced with this scenario, GENAQ proposes an innovative and sustainable solution: an atmospheric water generator. This technology makes it possible to obtain drinking water from the humidity in the air, without relying on conventional sources and without exploiting natural resources.

How does an atmospheric water generator work?

Atmospheric water generators capture ambient moisture, condense it and filter it into potable water, ready for drinking. This process resembles the natural water cycle, but on a controlled and efficient scale, without the need for water infrastructure.

Key benefits over other solutions:

• Independence from contaminated or scarce sources.
• Local production and low environmental impact.
• Reduced use of plastics vs. bottled water.
• Reliability in environments without access to piped water.

Water management is a global challenge: technology and innovation as allies

Knowing the true percentage of water on Earth and its availability makes us aware of the urgency of sustainable solutions. Access to drinking water is one of the great challenges of the 21st century.

In this context, technology must not only accompany the management of the resource, but also lead the change towards more sustainable models. Solutions such as GENAQ’s demonstrate that it is possible to innovate to care for the planet and guarantee safe water where it is most needed.