THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER

With two thirds of the earth's surface covered by water and the human
body consisting of 75 percent of it, it is evidently clear that water is one of the
prime elements responsible for life on earth. Water circulates through the land
just as it does through the human body, transporting, dissolving, replenishing
nutrients and organic matter, while carrying away waste material. Further in the
body, it regulates the activities of fluids, tissues, cells, lymph, blood and
glandular secretions.
An average adult body contains 42 litres of water and with just a small loss
of 2.7 litres he or she can suffer from dehydration, displaying symptoms of
irritability, fatigue, nervousness, dizziness, weakness, headaches and
consequently reach a state of pathology. Dr F. Batmanghelidj, in his book 'your
body's many cries for water', gives a wonderful essay on water and its vital role
in the health of a water 'starved' society. He writes: "Since the 'water' we drink
provides for cell function and its volume requirements, the decrease in our daily
water intake affects the efficiency of cell activity........as a result chronic
dehydration causes symptoms that equal disease..."

Sources of water
Surface water is water in a river, lake or fresh water wetland. Surface water is naturally
replenished by precipitation and naturally lost through discharge to
the oceans, evaporation, evapotranspiration and groundwater recharge.
Why do we need to conserve water

The freshwater supply available for consumption is only about 3% of the total world supply
of water. This means that if all of the worlds water is thrust into a cup, drinkable water would
only be about half a teaspoon!
More than one billion people in this planet do not have access to safe drinking water
Dehydration (lack of water) will kill us faster than starvation (lack of food). Since the plants
and animals we eat also depend on water, lack of it could cause both dehydration and
starvation. The scenario gets worse. Water that looks drinkable can contain harmful elements,
which could cause illness and death if ingested.
One of the biggest users of freshwater is the agricultural industry. To produce 1 kg of wheat,
we need about 1550 liters of water;

 Another big water user is the energy providers. The US uses more than 500 billion liters of
freshwater water each day for to cool down electric power plants.
By 2050, about 12,000 cubic kilometers of water will be required to feed the worlds
growing population. This is equivalent to amount of water in Lake Superior, the topmost in
the Great Lakes of United States.
It is said that the third world war will be fought for water.

Ways to conserve water

ater savings each year! Here are 20 water-saving tips to get you going
1. Shower Bucket. Instead of letting the water pour down the drain, stick a bucket under the
faucet while you wait for your shower water to heat up. You can use the water for flushing the
toilet or watering your plants.
2. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Water comes out of the average faucet at 2.5
gallons per minute. Dont let all that water go down the drain while you brush! Turn off the faucet
after you wet your brush, and leave it off until its time to rinse.
3. Turn off the tap while washing your hands. Do you need the water to run while youre
scrubbing your hands? Save a few gallons of water and turn the faucet off after you wet your
hands until you need to rinse.
4. If its yellow, let it mellow. This tip might not be for everyone, but the toilet is one of the most
water-intensive fixtures in the house. Do you need to flush every time?
5. Fix your leaks. Whether you go DIY or hire a plumber, fixing leak

6. Re-use your pasta cooking liquid. Instead of dumping that water down the drain, try draining
your pasta water into a large pot. Once it cools, you can use it to water your plants. Just make
sure you wait, because if you dump that boiling water on your plants, you might harm them.
7. Head to the car wash. If you feel compelled to wash your car, take it to a car wash that
recycles the water, rather than washing at home with the hose.
8. Cut your showers short. Older shower heads can use as much as 5 gallons of water per
minute. Speed things up in the shower for some serious water savings.
9. Choose efficient fixtures. Aerating your faucets, investing in a low-flow toilet, choosing efficient
shower heads, and opting for a Water Sense rated dishwasher and washing machine can add up
to big water savings.

10. Shrink your lawn. Even better: lose the lawn completely. Instead, opt for a xeriscaped
landscape that incorporates water wise ground cover, succulents, and other plants that thrive in
drought conditions.
Dont run the dishwasher or washing machine until theyre full. Those half-loads add up to
gallons and gallons of wasted water.
12. Keep an eye on your bill to spot leaks. If your water bill spikes suddenly, theres a good
chance that a leak is the culprit. Call in a plumber to check your lines to save water and cash!
13. Install a rain barrel. Rainwater harvesting is a great way to keep your plants hydrated without
turning on the hose or sprinkler.
14. Flush with less. Older toilets use a lot of water. You can reduce your usage by sinking a half
gallon jug of water in the toilet tank. Do NOT use a brick, because it will break down and the
sediment can damage your tank.
15. Water in the early morning. Youll need less water, since cooler morning temperatures mean
losing less water to evaporation. Its not a great idea to water in the evenings, since this can
promote mold growth.