The Earth is mostly water and less land. We still have plenty of rivers and vast oceans. What we have less of or don't have today is abundant clean drinking water supply.
Malaysia still has plenty of water when it rains but it doesn't have an efficient system of providing clean treated drinking water; it depends on Singapore to provide that. Singapore has a shortage of clean water and it must buy raw water from Malaysia and treat it for its people to drink. So far, the problems between the two countries are ok.
In the USA, even though there are so many water sources, USA is a vast farmland. As farmland, the USA depends on pesticides and weedkillers to save the crops it grows. The widespread use of chemicals leach and get into underground water systems, including aquifers. So in the USA, farmlands have contaminated water due to pesticide and weedkillers residues.
A problem with living too close to oil and gas drilling wells is the possibility of the oil and gas leaking into drinking water systems. Hotels and homes are hardest hit. There are reports of hotel occupants dying after drinking tap water in the hotel rooms. People have been known to fall sick from drinking contaminated water.
Living too near a large waste treatment plant can possibly give contaminated drinking water. The water may contain extra salt. If used for mechanical parts, salty water will cause rusty parts in machines, including washing machines and dishwasher.
Many areas which were once with luxurious plant growth have now turned into dry lands and deserts. It won't be a surprise if we use Google Map and suddenly find many areas becoming dry and new deserts. This is the bleak future if we don't take care of the environment. The water sources must be kept safe for drinking. There should be plenty of free drinking water for everyone.
In Adelaide, residents tap rainwater into metal tanks at a corner of their houses. Water is precious. Houses have good clean water, including drinking water.
Perth uses underground water to water its parks and gardens. This is putting natural rusty water to good use. It makes certain structures look rusty but these blend with the environment.
Marshes and too many rivers and lakes at Mandurah (south of Perth) form a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Residents complained of mosquitoes and have to depend on netting. They depend on oil lamps to kill the mosquitoes, especially in mid-summer, for al-fresco dining and BBQ.
It is our job to protect our water sources and systems if we don't want other people (or countries) to determine our water prices and how much water we get to drink daily. We cannot survive without clean drinking water.
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