Inaccessibility of water for recreation

People have a fundamental yearning for water, but most have little access to swimming pools, lakes or beaches, which are few in number and far away. Holiday resorts are over-filled with people so that many have to stay far from the water's edge; beaches may be in private hands, which removes their availability. Roads and industries frequently destroy water-edge amenities, making it dirty and treacherous. In the temperate climates that are rich in water, natural sources are dried up, hidden, covered or lost. For example, rainwater goes underground in sewers; water reservoirs are covered and fenced off; and rivers, lakes and ponds are so polluted that no one wants to go near them. There is inadequate planning for adding to public water recreation areas, owing to the tax burden of developmental costs while at the same time tax revenues are generated by the industrialization of water-side properties.