It links forest ecosystems of the interior mountains with the bays and estuaries along the coasts. It transports food, nutrients and other biologically important materials and organisms. Finally, water supplies energy to ecosystems because, through cooling and its motion, water saves energy that organisms and ecosystems would otherwise need to expend. People all over the planet are dependent on water to grow food, generate power, cool the machines of industry, carry wastes and much more. People use water in their personal lives for bathing and cleaning, recreating, drinking, cooking, gardening, and just for the pleasure of watching it.
Water also provides habitat for fresh and salt water living resources.
Therefore, fresh water is very limited - water in lakes, streams and rivers makes up less than 0.01 percent of the Earth's water. In the United States over 250 million people depend on the freshwater in our rivers, lakes, streams and ground water supplies for their drinking water. Given the scarcity of freshwater supplies and the intrinsic value of an water resources, it seems that water would be recognized as a precious commodity and protected. As such EPA plays a major role in the regulation, protection and improvement of water resources and supplies of the United States. Our activities are targeted to prevent pollution wherever possible and to reduce risk for people and ecosystems in the most cost-effective ways possible.