Maria Nunez Joanna Oliva -

The importance of Water 71% of earth is covered in water. 97% of the water is salt water 60% of your cells are made out of water 0.01% of earth’s water is fresh water – recycled. Water keeps us alive, moderates the climate, sculpts the land, removes and dilutes wastes as well as pollutants.

Unique Characteristics of Water There are strong forces of attraction between the water molecules which determine their distinctive property. Due to the strong forces of attraction water molecules exist in a range of different temperatures. Liquid water takes long to change because it can store heat for long periods of times without changing its temperature. Evaporating liquid water takes large amounts of energy because of the molecule attraction. Liquid water can dissolve a variety of compounds. Water filters UV rays. It expands when it freezes.

Properties of water The unique properties of water maintain the form of life in the biosphere by recycling and connecting forms of life together. Sadly we abuse our most important resource by polluting it and over using our fresh water supplies. Most of the water supplied on earth is to salty for agriculture, industry, or drinking. about 2.6% of our fresh drinking water is locked in in glaciers.

Freshwater Our freshwater is recycled by the hydrologic cycle which flows freshwater into rivers, lakes, and streams. The system works correctly if we do not withdraw water faster than it replenishes with freshwater. Certain nations are provided with a higher supply of freshwater depending on their location and amount of precipitation.

Surface Water Surface water is the water that does not sink into the ground or evaporate into the air and runs off into bodies of water. When water is not absorbed by the ground and it goes into the atmosphere it is called surface runoff. The drainage basin is where the water is drained from rivers, lakes, wetlands. The amount of renewable fresh water depends on the levels of surface water. We can only count of 1/3 of the runoff as reliable since we lose surface water due to hurricanes and floods.

Ground Water Some precipitation reaches the ground and is stored in spaces in soil and rock. Ground water is an important source of freshwater. Deep down there are layers called aquifers which act like sponges and hold large amounts of groundwater. We are using our reliable runoffs at extremely high rates. By withdrawing surface water the aquatic life can be damaged by temperatures changing.

Not enough Water? Irrigation is the biggest user of water – 70%, followed by industries with 20%, and cities and residences – 10% Not all the water we use is for drinking water. There tends to be a water scarcity especially when people use too much of their reliable source during droughts and dry seasons. Lakes and rivers have been known to shrink and change due to the amount of water being removed from them.

Water Only about 1/6 th of the world’s population has clean drinking water. Although over the years many people have gained access to a water supply, still some lack access to SAFE drinking water. We can increase water supplies by building dams, transporting water, withdrawing ground water, converting salt water into freshwater, wasting less, and importing food.

5 things to know Freshwater keeps our daily lives going therefore, if we withdraw safe amounts of water we won’t deplete our freshwater sources and the hydrologic cycle will continue to replenish rivers, lakes, and dams. Water has unique characteristics which keep it together as a liquid and solid. It can withstand holding large amounts of heat without melting due to the force of the attraction between the molecules. Surface water can be used as a reliable resource, as well as ground water which is sunk down below in layers in an aquifer. Only about 1/6 th of the world’s population has safe drinking water. The number is reducing everyday. If we build dams, transport water, withdraw from groundwater sources, waste less water, import food, we can prolong and have a better use of our freshwater sources.

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