What Is Freshwater?

Only a tiny share of Earth's water is fresh — and even less is easy to use.

Freshwater is water with very low salt content compared with seawater. It is found in rivers, lakes, glaciers, ice caps, and underground aquifers. Life on land depends on it for drinking, farming, and industry.

Where Freshwater Is Found

• Ice and glaciers
• Groundwater
• Lakes and rivers
• Soil moisture and atmosphere (small shares)

Most of Earth's water is saline ocean water. Of the freshwater that exists, much is locked in ice or deep underground.

Why It Matters

Growing populations and climate stress increase competition for accessible freshwater. Understanding the difference between total water and usable freshwater is the first step in water education.

Freshwater is abundant in the global total — and scarce where people need it most.