Explain how water becomes a renewable resource.
Water becomes a renewable resource because it is continually being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle. Freshwater is mainly obtained from surface runoff and groundwater, which are constantly replenished by this cycle.
All water moves within the hydrological cycle, ensuring that the resource is maintained over time. This continuous movement and recharge mechanism prevents water from being exhausted, making it a renewable resource despite only a small proportion being available as freshwater for use.
Explanation
The answer is derived directly from the textbook context which states that freshwater obtained from surface runoff and groundwater is 'continually being renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle.' The text explicitly concludes that 'All water moves within the hydrological cycle ensuring that water is a renewable resource.'
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the source of usable water (surface runoff and groundwater).
Step 2: Identify the mechanism that recharges these sources (the hydrological cycle).
Step 3: Conclude that this continuous movement makes water renewable.