The World Water Supply

Of all the water within earth's hydrologic cycle, most (97%) is salt water. Fresh water accounts for less than 3%, with approximately 0.01% of the planet’s water available as renewable water (e.g., lakes, rivers, wetlands, soil moisture and water vapour). The remainder of the fresh water is found in glaciers, ice caps, or groundwater. The majority of Canada’s water supply is found as surface water in major lake and river systems.