What is the definition of fresh water?

Fresh water is defined as naturally occurring water that has low amounts of salt, typically less than 1% salinity. This definition includes sources such as rivers, lakes, and groundwater, which are crucial for drinking water, irrigation, and various ecosystems.

Understanding the characteristics of fresh water is vital for managing and conserving this precious resource, especially considering that only a small fraction of the Earth's water is fresh. The comparison with saltwater, which is found in oceans and seas (and contains high salt content), underscores the distinct nature of fresh water. Hence, option B accurately captures what defines fresh water in contrast to saline sources.