Fresh water - Definition and Overview

For the village on the Isle of Wight, see Freshwater, Isle of Wight.

Fresh water (also freshwater or fresh-water) is water that contains only minimal quantities of dissolved salts, especially sodium chloride, thus distinguishing it from sea water or brackish water. All freshwater ultimately comes from precipitation of atmospheric water vapor, reaching inland lakes, rivers, and groundwater bodies directly, or after melting of snow or ice (see hydrologic cycle).

Access to fresh water is a critical issue for the survival of many species, especially in desert areas. See water resources.

Even on a ship or island, there can be a "water shortage", which means a shortage of fresh water.

For fish, it strongly matters how much dissolved sodium chloride the water they live in has. Most species cannot live in both fresh and salt water, though some species move between the two. Salt water fish have access to an abundance of salt, and try to get as much salt out of their body as possible, while trying to keep the water. Fresh water fish do the opposite: They have too much water, and too little salt.

See also

• Drinking
• Dehydration
• Drinking water
• Salt water