World water resources,present and future

The earth's hydrologic cycle sets the hydrosphere in motion and continuously renews freshwater reserves. In compiling maps of different water resources, the six-component method (equation) of water balance, suggested by the author, is used instead of the three-component one. Water resources transformation carried out on a large scale with the help of different methods, assists in preserving these reserves for the future. On the basis of an analysis of the present state of world water resources and alternative forecasts for the year 2000, the author concludes that it is of primary importance to reduce and eventually to cease the dumping of wastewaters into rivers and bodies of water and to isolate polluted water from the natural hydrologic cycle.