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Water is one of the most vital natural resources for life on Earth. The
availability and quality of water determines not only where people can live, but
also their quality of life. Even though there is plenty of fresh water, it is
not available when and where it is needed. Only five per cent of the world's
water is deemed fit for consumption and this figure is shrinking by the day.
Thus, it must be treated as a limited and precious resource. Without water,
all human activity would be affected and come to a
standstill. Water is essential for commercial use which includes
fresh water for motels, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, other commercial
facilities, and civilian and military institutions. Domestic water use would be
for drinking, food preparation, bathing, washing, flushing toilets, and watering
lawns and gardens. The other uses would be for industries such as power
generators and for agriculture.
The availability of water dictates where and to what extent development can
occur. Water must be in sufficient supply for an area to develop, and an area
cannot continue to develop if demand for water
outstrips supply. In the twenty-first century, the demand for water
has to be managed more effectively within the available supply instead of simply
building more dams.
The demand for water increases year by year as the human population grows
bigger. However, the supply of clean, useable water does not. Instead, it
shrinks due to pollution, deforestation and global warming. If a balance is not
obtained, our source of water will diminish very fast.
There are several ways in which an individual can save this precious
commodity. When washing dishes or hands, don't let the water run while rinsing.
Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could
save 1000 gallons of water. Minimize evaporation by watering plants early in the
morning when the temperature is cooler. Replacing the traditional shower head
with a water-saving one could save about a gallon of water each time.
It is said that one can survive a week without food, but only a few days
without water. Since water is the source of all life, it is time great
importance is placed to conserve. |
