A global call to protect wetlands is an immediate response which no-one can deny is an appropriate one. It is not the only response, but it is a tangible response which there is now clear evidence to support. A quick summary of some of the functions, values and benefits of wetlands shows why wetlands are a key to dealing with the water crisis. Unlike the other water sectors which require positive interventions and investment to obtain benefits from the use of water resources, the major benefits from wetlands are derived from the inherent functions of these ecosystems. Suppliers of water .
Wetlands are a key to providing potable water in the long term.
Groundwater recharge also occurs when water moves from a wetland down into the underground aquifer. By the time it reaches the aquifer, the water is usually cleaner than when it began to filter down from the wetland. Once in the aquifer, it may be drawn out for human consumption, or may flow laterally underground until it rises to the surface in another wetland as groundwater discharge. Regulators of water flow . Many rivers remain reliable sources of water throughout the year because flow is diverted from the main channels into peatlands, swamp and marsh areas in the catchment.