Final answer:
Only about 3% of the Earth's water is freshwater, and of that, less than 1% is easily accessible for human use as it is found in rivers, lakes, and swamps.
Step-by-step explanation:
Although Earth's surface is predominantly covered by water, only a small percentage is actually freshwater. About 71% of Earth is covered with water, but 97% of this is salty ocean water. The remaining 3% is freshwater, which is crucial for land-dwelling life. However, of this small percentage of freshwater, roughly 69% is trapped in glaciers and ice caps, around 30% is groundwater, and only about 1% is readily accessible as surface water in rivers, lakes, and swamps. Therefore, less than 1% of the Earth's freshwater is easily accessible for human use.