Figure 3.4 The great ocean conveyor beltAGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND MUNICIPAL USE
About half of the precipitation that falls on Earth either evaporates or returns to
the atmosphere through transpiration from plants. The remainder, known as
renewable freshwater resources, is converted to surface runoff, which feeds
rivers, lakes, and groundwater aquifers.
The three types of water withdrawal are agricultural (e.g., irrigation,
livestock, and aquaculture), industrial (e.g., steel, chemical, manufacturing,
paper, mining, and petroleum refining), and municipal (e.g., drinking water,
bathing, and laundry). Figure 3.6 below shows the relative withdrawal ratios of
these three types of water withdrawal.