Bayer MaterialScience protects the earth's most important resources with innovative raw materials
We live in a world of water. More than two-thirds of the earth's surface are covered by oceans, inland waters and rivers. Without water, life on our "Blue Planet" would be as desolate as it is on Mars. However, when it comes to available drinking water reserves on earth, appearances are deceiving: freshwater makes up only a relatively small amount of the 1.4 billion cubic kilometers of water on earth. Additionally, the rapid rise in global water consumption increases the shortage of our number one natural resource, and not only in the so-called arid zones... For instance, the British Isles normally have plenty of water, at least that which falls from the sky. Nevertheless, in spring 2006 greater London was forced to ration tap water. The year before, the region had surprisingly little rain. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that segments of the island?s water pipeline system were installed back in the Victorian era, and up to 30 percent of the water pumped through the decaying pipes is wasted because of leakage.
