Water: A Precious Resource

Water is a natural resource that exists in the gaseous, liquid, and solid phases and is made up of chemical elements- hydrogen and oxygen. At room temperature, it is an odourless, colourless liquid with the crucial property of dissolving numerous other compounds. In fact, living things depend on water's adaptability as a solvent. The aqueous solutions of the world's seas are thought to have given rise to life, and living things depend on aqueous solutions for biological processes including the production of blood and digestive juices. Water makes up 71 per cent of the earth's surface and more than 80 per cent of the planet's mass, earning it the nickname "blue planet."

Key Terms: Water, Water Cycle, Water Scarcity, Water Table, Freshwater, Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation 

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Water as a Precious Resource

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Water is a limited resource. There is a finite supply of water. All living creatures require it, so it must be controlled carefully to ensure we have enough and to safeguard our environment. There are other sources of water beside our oceans. Additionally, water can be found in the air and below the surface as vapour. This vapour condenses into clouds, ensuring that water returns to Earth as rain, sleet, snow, or hail. 

Lakes, rivers, ponds, and other water bodies are the main sources of water for human consumption.

Water

The video below explains this:

Water Detailed Video Explanation:

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Availability of Water

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Water covers over 71 per cent of the earth's surface. Nearly all of the water on the planet is found in the oceans, rivers, lakes, ice caps, groundwater, and atmosphere. However, the majority of this water is unfit for direct human consumption. Freshwater is the only type of water that can be used.

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Forms of Water

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At any given time, somewhere in the world, water can be found in all three states- solid, liquid, and gas, as it moves through the water cycle. 

• Snow-covered mountains, glaciers, and ice caps at Earth's poles are all examples of the solid form of snow and ice. 
• Oceans, lakes, rivers, etc, contain liquid water. 
• Water vapour, which is prevalent in the air all around us, is the gaseous form. Even when the entire globe is utilizing it, the amount of water on earth remains constant due to the ongoing cycling of water among its three forms.

Forms of Water

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Water Cycle

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The water cycle is a collection of numerous mechanisms that have preserved the earth's water supply for millions of years. The mechanism through which water moves about and is kept for future use is known as the water cycle.

Water Cycle

• Evaporation/Transpiration

The process through which a liquid phase transforms into a gaseous phase is called evaporation. Through microscopic pores known as stomata, water evaporates from the surface of leaves during the process of transpiration.

• Condensation

Condensation is the process by which a physical state transitions from a gaseous to a liquid phase.

• Precipitation

Precipitation happens when water vapour condenses in the sky, making water droplets heavier and forcing them to fall to the ground as rain, snow, hail, etc.

Read More: Difference Between Evaporation and Condensation

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Ground Water

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Water found underneath or beneath the surface of the Earth in soil pockets and rock formations is known as groundwater.

1. Water Table: The water table is the portion of the ground above that which is submerged in water. We might discover that the soil is moist if we dig a hole in the earth next to a body of water. The wetness in the soil is a sign that there is water below the surface. If we continued to mine, we would eventually reach a level where water completely filled the spaces between rock cleavages and soil granules. The water table refers to this layer's topmost level.
2. Infiltration: Infiltration is the term used to describe the process by which water seeps into the earth from the soil's surface. Rainwater and water from other sources, such as rivers and ponds, permeate the soil and fill crevices and gaps that are many feet underground. Water seeping into the earth is referred to as infiltration.
3. Aquifer: The areas where groundwater is held in reserve between rock strata below the water table. As a result, this process recharges the groundwater. In some locations, below the water table, groundwater is held in reserve between layers of hard rock. An aquifer is what this is called. Typically, handpumps or tube wells can be used to pump water out of the aquifers.

Ground Water

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Effect of Water Scarcity

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To grow by taking nutrients from the soil, plants require water. The scarcity of water has an impact on the health and growth of the plant, ultimately leading to its death. Just consider the effects if plants were denied access to water!

The planet's green nature will disappear. This might spell the end of all life as there would be no food, no oxygen, insufficient rain, and countless other issues in a world without plants.

Read More: Causes of Water Scarcity

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Water Management

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The efficient planning, distribution, and utilization of water resources is known as water management.

The following are some kinds of water management:

• Rainwater Harvesting or Water Harvesting: Water harvesting is the technique of gathering rainwater, which recharges the groundwater.
• Drip Irrigation: Drip irrigation is the practice of using tiny pipes to water vegetation' roots directly. 
• Bawris: A conventional technique for collecting and recharging rainwater. Over time, the bawris became inactive, and waste began to accumulate in these reservoirs. However, individuals in some areas have had to reconsider due to the severe water deficit. Reviving the bawris is underway. Despite the lack of rain today, these areas are doing a good job of meeting their water needs.

Rainwater Harvesting

What Role Can You Play?

Have you ever expressed concern when you saw a leaking pipe at your home, place of education, or any other area? Water is wasted a lot when taps leak. You need to work to prevent this leak. You can use a variety of strategies to reduce the amount of water that is wasted. Here are some of the measures that one can take to prevent water wastage: 

• Close the taps while brushing
• Instead of washing the floor, mop it.
• Fill buckets with water rather than take a shower.
• As quickly as possible, fix leaking pipes and taps, or place a bucket below them.
• Only take quick showers.
• Invest in water pipe insulation.
• Fit a water-saving showerhead.
• Wash your car with minimal water.
• Use harvested rainwater or greywater.

Water Conservation

Read More: Causes & Effects of Water Pollution

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Things To Remember

• Water is a finite and extremely valuable resource. Water covers over 71% of the surface of the globe. Water is found in the atmosphere, oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, ice caps, and groundwater. 
• There are various types of water. There are three different types of water on the surface of the earth: solid, liquid, and gaseous.
• The water cycle explains how water is constantly moving both inside the earth and in the atmosphere. It is a complicated system with a wide range of processes. Water vapour is created when liquid water evaporates, and this water vapour then condenses to form clouds and falls back to earth as rain and snow.
• Reduced photosynthesis, plant drying, decreased respiration, decreased transpiration, and altered adaption are all repercussions of water deprivation.
• Water management refers to the regulation and transportation of water resources with the aim of minimizing harm to people and property and maximizing their effective and advantageous usage.