Understanding Water Capital: Value & Importance

Water capital or water equity refers to the total value of water stored in aquifers, rivers, and lakes, as well as the value of water stored in glaciers and snowfields. This includes the value of the water itself, as well as the value of the services that water provides to people and ecosystems.

Examples of water capital value for people and ecosystems include:

- water for irrigation of crops

- water for industrial processes

- water for drinking

- water for transportation

- water for fish and wildlife

- water for recreation

Water capital is essential for human survival and economic development. It is also essential for the health of ecosystems. However, water capital is often taken for granted and undervalued, and many threats to water capital exist, including pollution, climate change, and overexploitation of water resources.