Save Water

Water- an important resource

• Water is a liquid that is essential for the survival of human beings and other living things. More than 60% of human body weight 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 the production of energy.

• Almost two thirds of the Earth are covered in water yet there many parts of the world that lack water from droughts, improper/inadequate resourcing or other reasons. One of the main reasons why there's so little to go around is because almost 97% of this water is saline which is what ocean and seawater is. Saltwater cannot be consumed. Fresh water is what we need but most of these sources can only be found frozen in the glaciers of the North and South Poles. Drinkable water is found in either freshwater rivers, lakes or beneath the ground surface under rocks and soil which is also called groundwater.

Some uses of water are :

Drinking

Bathing Washing Hands

Advantages of water Disadvantages of water In addition to the regimen related to the internal function ing of the body such as diet and exercise, the Naturopathic system of healing makes use of several remedial procedures external to the body. These procedures are designed to achieve two aims: 1) accelerating the process of healing and 2) providing relief to the patient from the painful symptoms of the disorder. Among these external remedies prescribed by Nature Cure, hydrotherapy is of special importance. Water is an integral factor of our life processes. Actually water makes up 70 per cent of the human body.

The average body is more than 50 percent water. A lack of water can lead to dehydration, which can put undue stress on normal body functions. Since fluids are released from our bodies daily, it is important that we replace these fluids. However, we must be careful not to over-hydrate. Over-hydration can cause hyponatremiaDrinking excessive amounts of water unnecessarily can create stress on both your heart and kidneys, and can even be fatal.

States of water

• Water is known to exist in three different states; as a solid, liquid or gas.

Solid State of Water The dipole moment of water gives it the electrostatic charge needed to interact with other materials. The oxygen, which is highly reactive, has the greater electronegative charge than the hydrogen, which by comparison has a slight positive charge.

Elements which are more electro positive than hydrogen such as lithium, sodium, calcium, potassium and cesium displace hydrogen from water, forming hydroxides. Being a flammable gas, the hydrogen given off is dangerous and the reaction of water with the more electropositive of these elements is violently explosive. Water thus can bond to a wide variety of elements and molecules and change too as a result. As a result of the dipole moment, water has a strong surface tension. Under the right conditions of temperature, this dipole moment will allow water to form a solid. But this solid state comes in a variety of forms due to quantum phase state changes from slush to hard ice. Ice can exist in a form where the alignment of water molecules will allow the solid state to float on the liquid state. This is the familiar form of ice we see in ice cubes and ice burgs. Under extreme pressure, a hot ice can form that will not float. This type of ice exists only where pressure is extreme enough to solidify it even at high heat.

Some images of Water in ‘Solid State’ :

Ice cube Ice-berg (a form of ice)

Liquid state of Water

Water in its liquid state, the molecules are closer together than a gas and further apart when compared to a solid. Another characteristic is that it is a compound because two hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom create water (H2O) . Water also has a definite volume, but not a definite shape. It takes the shape of its container. As opposed to a solid that has a definite shape and volume and a gas that has no definite shape or definite volume. Water takes the shape of its container.

Also, a water molecule is a polar molecule because it has a positive and negative end. I believe the oxygen end is negative and the hydrogen end is positive. These are some characteristics of water in its liquid state

Some images of Water in ‘Liquid State’ :

A glass of drinking water Water flowing down the hill

Gaseous state of water• The gaseous state of water is invisible and is called

water vapor. • Steam is not a gas, it is tiny droplets of liquid water.

If you look at a tea kettle that is boiling, you will see a jet of steam coming from the spout. If you look closer at the spout, you will see that the first inch or two of the jet coming out is invisible. This is the water vapor which then cools slightly as it reaches the ambient air and condenses into the very fine (and very hot) liquid water droplets of steam.

Some images of water in ‘Gaseous state’:

Clouds Fog/Mist

Daily uses of Water in day-to-day life

• The most important benefit of water is that it can prevent dehydration in living beings, and it is consumed by every person who is living on Earth. Additionally, it is used in agriculture for irrigating farmlands, and it is the source of power for the production of hydroelectricity. It can also prevent damage, injuries, and deaths when it is used to combat fires. Other than these uses, human beings also use water for washing, food processing, recreation, and other purposes.

Why should we save water?

Let’s see…

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, oil 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 in turn causes 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 conservation means using our water wisely and caring for it properly.

Since each of us depends on water for life, it is our responsibility to learn more about water conservation and how we can help keep our water pure and safe for generations to come.Our water supply is finite, which means that we do not have an endless supply. We only have the water that we have now. Ninety - seven percent of all the water on the earth is salt water which is not suitable for drinking. Only three percent of all the water is fresh water, and only one percent is available for drinking water. The other two percent is locked in ice caps and glaciers.We must learn to save water now for the future. The quality of our water is very important. We have the same amount of water now as there was when the earth was created.This is the water we have, and we must preserve its quality. Water is the foundation of food and life. Next to air, water is our most precious resource. Saving water helps to preserve our environment. It reduces the energy required to process and deliver water, which helps in reducing pollution and in conserving fuel resources.Saving water now means having water available in the future for recreational purposes, too. Conserving the water we have minimizes the effects of water shortages and helps build a better defense against future drought years. If we save water now, we are helping to ensure a water supply adequate for future generations. Saving water saves money.‘Water conservation is a big thing, but every little bit helps, so don't think that what you do doesn't matter. A whole lot of people doing a little bit adds up to a whole lot.’

Ten ways in which you will be able to save water:

• Turn off the tap - a running tap wastes over 6 litres of water per minute.• Fit taps and shower heads with flow restrictors- this cuts water use by

half.• Fix dripping taps - they waste at least 5,500 litres of water a year• Take a short shower instead of a bath.• Have a full load when you wash your clothes.• When washing your dishes in the sink, use a plug.• Fill the dishwasher before putting it on and use the eco setting.• Put a save-a-flush in your Toilet’s flush tank- it will save one litre of water

per flush.• Purchase water efficient appliances.• Do you have a garden? Install a water butt to collect rainwater, and use it

to water your garden or wash your car.

MADE BY: Aditya Nambiar STD: 9th DIV: E