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d rivers. ? Soil erosion is a very widespread phenomenon, and is usually irreversible ? Once the nutrientrich surface soil has been lost, the ability to sustain plant growth is severely reduced ? Increased runoff from the more impermeable subsoil results in a decrease in plantavailable water. ? Erosion brings various associated offsite problems, including reduced water quality from increased sediment loads and poorer air quality due to dust. Soil Erosion Problems GCTE: Global Change and Terrestrial Ecology Water Supply ? Dinking and sanitation ? Irrigation ? Industry and power generation ? Transportation Water supply is limited by the small fraction of fresh water on Earth, but the demand is increasing due to various reasons: Increasing population