Correct Option
The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The availability of usable fresh water is declining due to a combination of demand-side pressures (population growth, agricultural intensity, industrialization) and supply-side constraints (pollution, aquifer depletion). Water scarcity is exacerbated when consumption rates exceed the natural replenishment of water resources.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: A rising population increases the direct demand for water for domestic use (drinking, washing) and indirect demand for food and industrial goods. This places immense stress on freshwater sources, reducing the per capita availability of usable water.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Industries are significant consumers of water. They require vast quantities for cooling, processing, and cleaning. Industrial water use is a major factor in the depletion of local water bodies, not a negligible one.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Food production (agriculture) is the single largest consumer of freshwater globally. Irrigation accounts for approximately 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. Asserting that it requires no water is factually wrong.
Key Takeaway
Agriculture is the dominant consumer of freshwater resources, followed by the industrial and domestic sectors. Population growth acts as a multiplier for water demand across all these sectors.