TED-Ed: Fresh water scarcity: An introduction to the problem - Christiana Z. Peppard

The video highlights the critical importance of freshwater, emphasizing its essential role in life and the global common good. It challenges common misconceptions about individual water usage, revealing that domestic use accounts for only a small fraction of global consumption. The video stresses the need for attention to agricultural and industrial water use, which dominate consumption. It also explores how societies value freshwater, questioning whether it is an economic commodity, a human right, or a public good. The video calls for a collective effort to manage freshwater sustainably for the future.

Why is freshwater considered essential for both human and non-human life?

• Because it is a renewable resource

• Because it is abundant and easily accessible

• Because it is vital for survival and ecological balance

• Because it is used in industrial processes

What is a common misconception about solving freshwater shortages?

• That freshwater is not essential for life

• That industrial use is negligible

• That agriculture uses the least amount of water

• That reducing personal water use will solve the problem

What percentage of global freshwater consumption is attributed to domestic use?

• 70%

• 22%

• 8%

• 50%

Which sector is the largest consumer of freshwater globally?

• Domestic use

• Industrial use

• Agriculture

• Recreational activities

What is a key challenge in valuing freshwater as a public good?

• Balancing profit with the common good

• Ensuring it is used only for agriculture

• Making it a private commodity

• Limiting its use to industrial purposes