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1 In terms of the question “how much water is there?” explain why only approximately 0.3% of the entire water on the Earth is considered usable fresh water.

2 With so much water on the planet explain why there is a water availability and water supply crisis.

3 List and briefly describe the four major aquatic habitats in the United States and indicate concerns regarding contamination of these resources.

4 SIWI (2005) and Hares (2017) have made strong cases for the economic benefit of water infrastructure investments around the world. In the United States, the US Water Alliance (2017) outlined the way forward for ensuring all people have access to clean, affordable water, and all benefits from water infrastructure investments to make water supplies more reliable and resilient in the face of climate change pressures. Review the US Water Alliance (2017) national briefing paper on water equity and summarize the “Three Pillars” of water equity put forth in this document.

5 A comparison of global drinking water supply and sanitation services provided by WHO (2017) suggests that in 2015, North America had some of the highest rates of improved water supplies (96%) and basic sanitation (97%) and safely managed improved sanitation facilities (78%) in the world. The statistics for the United States are even higher at 99% of the population using improved water supplies, while 89% were using improved sanitation facilities. For those in the United States either not having access to improved water supplies or improved sanitation facilities, UNC Environmental Finance Center (2017) has indicated that conditions for them are similar to individuals in developing countries. Review the UNC Environmental Finance Center (2017) document on Clean Water Access Challenges in the United States and summarize the six major clean water access challenges they identified in twenty-first-century America.