Final answer:
Agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater worldwide, utilizing about 70% of the global supply, predominantly for irrigation. Freshwater scarcity is exacerbated by the fact that less than three percent of Earth's water is fresh and most is trapped in polar ice caps, leaving very limited water for human usage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The largest consumer of freshwater in the world is agriculture. It uses approximately 70% of the global freshwater supply for the purposes of irrigation, livestock watering, pesticide and fertilizer application. This high level of use is due to the vast amount of land dedicated to agriculture, which has shifted from temperate regions to more tropical areas where forests are often cleared. The intensive water usage by the agricultural sector overshadows the consumption by swimming pools, industrial processes, or even direct human consumption for drinking and household purposes. It's also important to note that agriculture contributes to water pollution, which affects the quality of water resources.
Access to clean drinking water remains a critical issue because although 70% of the Earth is covered by water, less than three percent of this water is fresh. Moreover, much of the available freshwater is stored in ice caps, leaving a miniscule portion for human use. Despite current practices, sustainable water management is crucial to meet the increasing demands from domestic and industrial sectors, and to protect future ecosystems.