Water: An Important Natural Resource Used Every Day
Water is a liquid that is essential for the survival of human beings and other living things. More than 60% of the weight of the human body is made up of water. Other than consuming water for survival, human beings also use the liquid for a wide variety of purposes, ranging from maintenance of hygiene to production of energy.
Water Chemistry
The chemical formula for water is H2O, which means that one water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom - hydrogen atoms are linked to one side of the oxygen atom. The side of the hydrogen atoms have positive charge are and the side of the oxygen atom has a negative charge. These opposite electrical charges attract each other giving water a kid of sticky property. These negative charges may also attract the positive charges of other water molecules than the ones that they are in. This attraction results in water molecules combing to make drops and stick together. Gravity forces them to fall else they would appear as perfect spheres.
Water can exist in three different forms, namely, ice, water, and water vapor. In its pure form, water is odorless and tasteless, and it is a transparent liquid that has high solvency. Under normal circumstances, the boiling and freezing points of water are 100°C and 0°C respectively.
- Water Chemistry: An overview of water chemistry.
- The Chemistry of Water: Comprehensive explanation of the chemistry of water.
- Properties of Water: Find out about the properties of water in this document.
- States of Water: Clear description of the three states of water.
- Understanding H²O: Learn about the chemical structure, electrolysis, and properties of water.
- Water Structure and Science: Extensive information about the chemical structure and science of water.
The Water Cycle
There is an adequate supply of water on Earth, because water is naturally recycled. The water cycle begins with the evaporation of water by heat from the sun. The evaporated water, or water vapor, rises into the sky and gather as clouds. Due to low temperature in the sky, the water vapor condenses and falls onto the surface of the Earth as rain.
- Water Cycle Diagram: An illustrated explanation of the water cycle.
- The Water Cycle: Description of the multi-phased journey of water on Earth.
- Story of Water Cycle: Interactive presentation of the water cycle.
- Water Cycle Processes: This document describes the different processes of the water cycle.
- Hydrologic Cycle: Detailed discussion on the hydrologic cycle.
Water Use
The most important benefit of water is that it can prevent dehydration in human beings, and it is consumed by every person who is living on Earth. Additionally, it is used in agriculture for irrigating farm lands, and it is the source of power for the production of hydroelectricity. It can also prevent damages, injuries, and deaths when it is used as a fire extinguisher. Other than these uses, human beings also use water for washing, food processing, recreation, and other purposes.
- Water Use: A web page that describes the various ways that water is used in the United States.
- Uses of Water: Learn about the many uses of water in this web page.
- Industrial Water Use: Article that reveals how water is used in industrial activities.
- Agricultural Water Use: Frequently asked questions about agricultural use of water in the United States.
- Benefits of Water: A list of beneficial uses of water.
Water Quality
The physical, chemical and biological properties make up the water quality and determine its use for particular purpose. Scientific experiments may have a broad term for good water but its precise purpose defines the quality of the required water. For example, the water that we drink may need to be of higher quality than the water we wash clothes with. Usually the search for quality water is conducted for human consumption, or for children to swim, and also for our plants and animals.
Drinking Water
Natural water in certain places may not be clean enough for human consumption, because it contains bacteria that can cause health problems such as diarrhea. As such, it has to be purified and treated before it is distributed to the masses for consumption. In the past, most people boil water from tap or other sources before they drink it. Nowadays, drinking water is available in several forms, including filtered water and bottled water.
- Drinking Water: Lots of information on drinking water.
- Safe Drinking Water: Find out what kind of water is safe for drinking.
- Quality of Drinking Water: Drinking water quality guidelines from the World Health Organization.
- Bottled Water: Web page that provides useful information about bottled water.
- Tap, Bottled, or Filtered Water: Learn how to choose the safest drinking water.
Water Testing
As the universal solvent the water can dissolve almost any substance. This also makes it every susceptible to contamination and pollution. Contaminants like Lead and E. Coli Bacteria are toxic and harmful for consumption. This is why drinking water needs to tested in regular intervals. The Environmental Protection Agency or the EPA has set the current testing standards in the United States. These standards are the results of decades of policy changes and scientific research.Water Purification
The water purification process involves the removal of undesirable contaminants which may be in the form of biological and chemical particles, suspended solids and gases from other contaminated source. Purification means to convert waste water to usable water. High quality conversion is completed for human consumption and other living needs. But it is also purified for many industrial needs, including pharmacology and medical fields. The biological process of purification involves activated sludge or slow sand filters; the physical process involves sedimentation, filtration, distillation; and the chemical process contains chlorination, flocculation use of electromagnetic radiation like the ultraviolet light.
Water Distribution
The distribution of water on Earth is uneven between saline sea water and freshwater. When seen from space the Earth appears blue because 71% of the Earth’s water is the ocean which reflects and scatters the light. Due to this our planet is often referred to as the Blue Planet. As mentioned the larger percentage of water on Earth is saline water. The average salinity is around 35% but this figure varies between terrains. 98% of the oceanic water around the Earth is from saline closed lakes or marginal seas. The rest is the fresh water resource. In generic terms fresh water refers to less than 0.35% salinity than the oceanic waters.
Fresh Water
Fresh water is also called sweet water to signify the absence or low levels of salt in it. It has low levels of salt as well as other dissolved substances. This makes it very different from the saline or brackish seawater and easy for consumption. But freshwater does have dissolved minerals in them as found in the Chalybeate Springs. Fresh water is naturally found all over the planet in the form of various water bodies like lakes and ponds, rivers and streams, as glaciers and ice sheets, and as ground water through underground streams and aquifers.
Water Pollution
In the past few decades, oceans and water bodies around the world have become increasingly polluted. Industrial wastes, sewage, use of chemical products, oils spills, and other factors are causing natural water sources to become more and more contaminated. The increase in air pollution also contaminates the atmosphere and clouds, which will in turn cause rain water to become more toxic. Governments around the world have imposed laws to reduce the disposal of harmful chemicals into water, and environmentalists are also making efforts to encourage people to keep water sources clean.
- Water Pollution: Document that discusses the causes and effects of water pollution.
- Water Pollution Statistics: Statistics on water pollution from the United Nations
- Water Pollution and Society: An excellent article that shows the effects of water pollution on the society.
- Type of Water Pollution: Description of different types of water pollution.
- Acid Rain: Web page with lots of articles about acid rain.
Water Conservation
With a limited amount of fresh water available, it is possible to use too much. Water shortages take place when water is used up before it can be replenished through the water cycle. As such, governments are encouraging manufacturers to produce more water efficient products, such as low-flow shower heads, dual flush toilets, water-saving clothes washers, and others. Additionally, farms are using water-efficient equipment, and many new water-saving commercial devices are being introduced, such as waterless car wash, infrared faucets, and others. Many households are also observing water-saving practices.
- Water Usage: Find out how much water is used for different activities.
- Water Conservation Facts: Fact sheet that contains interesting information about water conservation.
- Water Conservation: Web page that promotes the practice of water conservation.
- Water Saving Tips: A long list of water conservation tips.
Water Recycling
Recycling is an important term when we talk of conserving the planet. And this extends beyond plastic, paper and metals. Water can be recycled as well. It is recycled for many purposes – treating and turning waste water to reusable water for industries, for agriculture, for landscape irrigation, for replenishing or recharging ground water basin, and for some household needs like toilet flushing. Waste water used is given different quality treatments for these different needs. Like water needed for use in the home may require higher treatment than for use in industries. Water recycling leads to both energy as well as financial conservation.