The Green Thumb

摘要

Water: Water is the most abundant compound in the world. It is the major constituent of all living organisms. Without water, life would cease to exist. A person can survive one week without food, but only three days without water. Today, most people are unaware of a water crisis. [Editor's Note: The Abah-rams wrote this nearly 30 years ago.] Over 3/4 of the earth's surface is covered with water and oceans contain 97% of the water. Only 3% of the Earth's water supply is fresh (non-saline). Of this 3%fresh water about 75% is trapped as ice and snow in polar ice caps and glaciers. Only 25% is found in rivers, lakes and groundwater. Each reader of this magazine produces 70 to 100 gallons of waste water and 25 pounds of sewage sludge daily. Thus 400 gallons of polluted water are produced with every pound of organic matter transported to the nearest sewage treatment plant.