WATER IN THE WORLD: AVAILABILITY, SHORTAGE AND BENEFITS AND HARMS OF WASTEWATER IN MODERN AGRICULTURE

Freshwater accounts for only 2.5% of the world's total, with most of it inaccessible because it is trapped in glaciers or deep aquifers. Groundwater, which makes up 30.1% of freshwater, is crucial for human consumption, agriculture and industry. However, excessive extraction, especially for irrigation in arid and semi-arid regions, has depleted aquifers and caused pollution and subsidence. Agriculture consumes almost 70% of the freshwater extracted, with crops such as rice and wheat standing out for their high demand. Inefficiencies in irrigation and lack of wastewater reuse exacerbate the problem. Climate change alters the water balance, intensifying rainfall variability, floods and droughts, threatening water availability and food security. Although some countries have abundant water resources, they face regional scarcity due to unsustainable practices and weather extremes, while arid nations rely on groundwater and food trade. Research by Dorta-Santos et al. (https://doi.org/10.3390/su6106902) suggests that sustainable water management, integrating advanced technologies and global cooperation, is essential to ensure equitable access and mitigate environmental impacts. Reusing wastewater for irrigation is presented as a viable solution to reduce dependence on freshwater and improve soil fertility, contributing to a more balanced hydrological future.