Need and Conservation of Water
Science Four
Water & our planet earth
Water plays very important role in our lives. All living things need water to live. There can be no life without water. Water is found only on one planet in the whole universe that is our earth. Because of presence of water, our earth is also known as BLUE PLANET.
About two third part of earth is covered with water. 97 % of water on earth is in the form of ocean. The ocean water is not fit for drinking and for our daily needs, because ocean water is saline. So, we have only 3% of water for drinking and other daily needs.
The amount of drinking (fresh) water is limited. Most of the fresh water available; cannot be drink without purification.
Sources of fresh water
There are many sources of fresh water. Ground water, rivers, lakes and glaciers are the major sources of water.
Shortage of fresh water
With the development and increase in population demand of fresh water is increasing with leaps and bounds. This made the availability of water more limited. This leads to scarcity of fresh water more severe. People have to face difficulties to get fresh water even for daily needs.
Causes of Shortage of Water
Population growth
Growing population is increasing demand of fresh water continuously. The limited available resources of water unable to fulfil the increasing demand. This creates shortage of water.
Development:
Increase in population forced to build more buildings, roads, factories to fed the needs of more people. This leads to reduce the size of forests. Forests are being cleared to fulfil the need. Reducing number of trees affects climate badly resulting in less rain fall. This is creating shortage of water.
Increasing number of vehicles and factories
Number of vehicles and factories are increasing in cities to fulfil the growth in population. This increased the level of smoke and harmful gases in the air which is creating ecological imbalance. These harmful gases mixed with rain water and make it acidic. Water then fall in the form of rain is not suitable to use for drinking and irrigation. To fulfil the required demand available fresh water is being used this is making water scarcity more severe.
Industrialisation
Many industries use large amount of water. In cities more big factories are being setup to meet the every growing demand of food, clothing, buildings, and many other amenities. These factories utilize more underground water but it not replenished again as much as it is used due to shortage of rainfall. These decrease in the underground water level thus caused water scarcity.
Environmental degradation
Due to increasing population people are cutting trees and forests for building houses for setting factories. Reduction in number of trees changes the climatic condition which leads to decrease in rain fall and snowfall. This created shortage of water.
Deforestation
Cutting of trees in noticeable numbers are called deforestation. People are cutting trees and clearing forest for building houses, for setting factories. This changes decrease rainfall and snowfall resulting in shortage of fresh water.
Reference: