text: when will earth run out of fresh water?   about 70% of the world-wide usage of water is in irrigation. another 15% is industrial usage, like being used as a coolant in power plants. another 15% is used by households. it is estimated that by the year 2025 much of the world will be facing a water shortage crisis.  also when water evaporates over the oceans, like a hurricane or tropical storm, and then hits land it dumps freshwater on land that started out as saltwater. also when a person drinks water all day they still excrete a substance that is 90% water, animals too, maybe half the amount or more that he or she drank.  i am being misunderstood. the usa and europe and russia, according to the picture at the link, will not run out of water. it's places in the middleast and africa that will be suffering from a water shortage crisis. the water will still be on the planet, they just won't have any to drink. the water won't be able to get there. thank you to the person two boxes up that pointed out this answer could be misunderstood.