Answer: The reason why so much freshwater is unavailable for human use is due to various factors:
Most of Earth's freshwater is stored in the form of ice caps and glaciers. These frozen sources of freshwater are inaccessible for human use because they are located in remote and often inhospitable regions such as the polar ice caps and high mountain ranges.
Another significant portion of freshwater is underground, stored in aquifers. These underground water sources are difficult to access and require expensive drilling and pumping techniques to extract the water. Additionally, over-pumping can deplete these aquifers faster than they can recharge, leading to a permanent loss of freshwater.
Some freshwater is also present in lakes, rivers, and streams. However, these surface water sources can be polluted by human activities such as industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and improper disposal of waste. This contamination makes the water unfit for human use without undergoing extensive treatment processes.
Additionally, there are legal and political factors that limit human access to freshwater. Water rights and allocation systems vary across different regions and countries, leading to disparities in access to freshwater resources.