Final answer:
Approximately 68.7% of Earth's freshwater is held in ice caps and glaciers, and 30.1% exists as deep groundwater, making these sources relatively inaccessible. With less than 1% of freshwater being easily accessible, and most of Earth's water being saline ocean water, clean drinking water accessibility is a serious issue.
Step-by-step explanation:
A significant percentage of the total water on Earth is relatively inaccessible, being locked away in ice caps, glaciers, and as deep groundwater. Specifically, 68.7% of freshwater is contained within ice caps and glaciers, 30.1% exists as groundwater, and only a small fraction is available as surface water.
This distribution explains why, despite the planet being covered by 71% water, less than 1% of freshwater is easily accessible and available for human consumption and other life forms. Surface water accounts for a little more than 1.2% of all freshwater, with 87% of that in lakes, 11% in swamps, and just 2% in rivers. The vast majority of Earth's water is saline, located in the oceans, accounting for 97% of total global water. Hence, the small fraction of freshwater available creates a critical issue for communities in seeking access to safe drinking water.