Water is often called the source of life, as every living organism depends on it for survival, from the smallest microorganisms to the largest ecosystems. Beyond sustaining life, water also powers much of the world’s economy and energy systems, making it one of humanity’s most valuable, and increasingly vulnerable, resources.
As the global population continues to grow, and climate change alters rainfall patterns and increases the frequency of droughts and floods, securing sustainable water resources has become one of the defining challenges of this century. If the current development continues, the World Economic Forum has projected that the gap between global water supply and demand will reach 40% by 2030.
Water is not only consumed, it also produces energy. Hydropower is one of the world’s oldest and most reliable renewable energy sources. Unlike fossil fuels, hydropower produces electricity without direct carbon dioxide emissions during operation.
Today, hydropower generates about 15% of the world’s electricity, making it the largest single source of renewable electricity globally. It also accounts for roughly 40–50% of all renewable electricity generation, although this proportion is gradually declining as wind and solar power expand rapidly.
Countries including Norway, Brazil, Canada, China, and Paraguay rely heavily on hydropower, with Norway generating nearly all of its electricity from water.
Even energy sources that do not generate electricity directly from water often require significant amounts of it. Thermal power plants, including coal, natural gas, biomass, and nuclear facilities, use large volumes of water for cooling. Oil and gas extraction require water during drilling and processing, while hydrogen production through electrolysis depends directly on high-purity water.
Manufacturing solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and biofuels also involve water-intensive industrial processes. This close relationship is known as the water-energy nexus: producing energy requires water, while supplying clean water requires energy for pumping, treatment, desalination, and distribution.
The sustainability of hydropower depends not only on engineering but also on climate, geography, and responsible water management.
Climate change is altering the global water cycle. Some regions experience prolonged droughts, reducing river flows and limiting hydroelectric generation. Others face increasingly intense rainfall and flooding, threatening dams, infrastructure, and water quality.
Freshwater represents only about 2.5% of earth’s total water, and less than 1% is readily accessible in rivers, lakes, and shallow groundwater. This limited supply must support billions of people, agriculture, industry, ecosystems, and energy production. The picture above illustrates the amazing proportion between the volume of water relative to our globe.
Every drop therefore carries multiple responsibilities: sustaining life, growing food, supporting economies, and generating electricity.
Water is quietly connecting our health, our food, our industries, and the electricity that powers our world.
Recognizing its true value is one of the first steps toward ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
Further information may be seen e.g. at this link
(This article is based on the information posted on internet; edited by T.Sollie)