Fresh water
Fresh water (or freshwater) is any naturally occurring water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Though the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does include non-salty mineral-rich waters such as chalybeate springs. Fresh water may include water in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, icebergs, bogs, ponds, lakes, rainfall, rivers, streams, and groundwater contained in underground aquifers. 

Water is critical to the survival of all living organisms. Many organisms can thrive on salt water, but the great majority of higher plants and most mammals need fresh water to live.

Fresh water is not always potable water, that is, water safe to drink. Much of the earth's fresh water (on the surface and groundwater) is to a substantial degree unsuitable for human consumption without some treatment. Fresh water can easily become polluted by human activities or due to naturally occurring processes, such as erosion.

Fresh water is a renewable and variable, but finite natural resource. Fresh water can only be replenished through the process of the water cycle, in which water from seas, lakes, forests, land, rivers, and reservoirs evaporates, forms clouds, and returns as precipitation. Locally, however, if more fresh water is consumed through human activities than is naturally restored, this may result in reduced fresh water availability (or water scarcity) from surface and underground sources and can cause serious damage to surrounding and associated environments. Water pollution and subsequent eutrophication also reduces the availability of fresh water.
Q283
water
Concept
Q3686031
concentration
Concept
Q12370
salts
Concept
Q2466917
total dissolved solids
Concept
Q184395
seawater
Concept
Q105533
brackish water
Concept
Q3046709
chalybeate
Concept
Q12599
ice sheet
Concept
Q878077
ice cap
Concept
Q35666
glacier
Concept
Q47568
iceberg
Concept
Q1681353
bog
Concept
Q3253281
pond
Concept
Q23397
lake
Concept
Q7925
rainfall
Concept
Q4022
river
Concept
Q47521
stream
Concept
Q161598
groundwater
Concept
Q208791
aquifers
Concept
Q7239
organisms
Concept
Q7377
mammal
Concept
Q7892
potable water
Concept
Q2
earth
CEL
Q183129
polluted by human activities
Concept
Q131681
reservoirs
Concept
Q5376358
water scarcity
Concept
Q183129
Water pollution
Concept
Q156698
eutrophication
Concept
Q102192
Fresh water
Concept
Q102192
Fresh water
Concept
Q102192
Fresh water
Concept
Q102192
Fresh water
Concept
Q102192
Fresh water
Concept
Q102192
Fresh water
Concept
subclass of