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Water is an essential natural resource. It is crucial for sustaining life on Earth. It facilitates important metabolic processes in plants and animals, such as photosynthesis and hydration. An average individual uses 600 to 700 litres daily. Rainwater, groundwater, and surface water constitute the primary sources of the water resource. Proper management and conservation of water resources are imperative to ensure equitable distribution and prevent depletion and pollution. By promoting awareness and implementing sustainable practices, we can safeguard water availability for future generations and uphold environmental sustainability, securing the well-being of all living organisms dependent on this invaluable resource.
Types of Water Resources
Water Resources are classified into three categories:
Saltwater Resources
Oceans come under the category of Saltwater Resources. They cover about 71% of the earth’s surface. Oceans have a high salt content, which is sodium chloride. This salt water cannot be consumed and cannot be used in agriculture without desalination.
Groundwater Resources
Water that is under the surface of the earth is groundwater. This water fills the porous space in soil, sediment, and rocks. Groundwater is the major source of freshwater. It is used for agriculture, industries, and domestic use. This water is naturally filtered and requires less treatment.
Surface Water Resources
The water resources found on the surface of the earth are surface water resources. These include rivers, lakes, streams, and reservoirs. Surface water is a source of fresh water for consumption by humans.
Importance of Water
Water is the most important source for all the living organisms on the earth. The importance of water is given below:
- Humans require water for consumption.
- Water is required for maintaining ecosystems.
- Water is important for various industrial and agricultural processes.
- Water supports life on the planet.
- Water is important for food production.
Water Scarcity
Water Scarcity means the shortage of water and an imbalance between the demand and supply of water. And also a shortage of good-quality water.
We require water for almost every activity like drinking, cooking, washing, cleaning, etc. But water is getting wasted due to human carelessness and lack of planning. Therefore resulting in the scarcity of water. A human needs a minimum of 50 liters of water per day for all the basic needs. There is a large population that is not getting this small quantity of water. Hence most of the population is facing water scarcity.
Causes of Water Scarcity
- 71% of the earth’s surface is covered with water. But most of the water is not fit for consumption. Freshwater is present in very small quantities.
- Humans are overusing water and also wasting it.
- Another cause of water scarcity is due to leakages, excessive water use in washing, and taps being opened after use.
- The increasing population demands more water supply.
- Industrialization and urbanization increased the consumption of water.
Water Resource Management
Water resource management is the management of the use, conservation, and distribution of water to meet the needs of people, industries, agriculture, and the environment. It includes the following points:
- Understanding water resources: Studying where water comes from, such as lakes, rivers, groundwater, etc. Assessment of how much water is available and how it gets consumed in a particular period.
- Planning and development: Building of dams, reservoirs, and water treatment plants to store clean water. From this, water is distributed to communities and industries.
- Conservation practices: Encouraging individuals to use water sensibly in their homes and in businesses too. Promotion of water-saving technologies.
- Addressing pollution: The quality of water gets low due to water pollution. Treatment is done to water to improve its quality before it is supplied to the environment.
- Sustainable Use: Balancing water by prioritising its use. Allocation of water is to be done while ensuring that it is accessible for all the users.
- Adapting to challenges: Many challenges are there like population growth, climate change, and changing water availability. It requires updating of infrastructure, recycling of water, desalination of water, and many more.
Effects of Over-Exploitation of Water Resources
- Overuse of water resources can make land dry, which causes harm to plants and animals.
- When groundwater is overused, the land above can sink, which causes damage to buildings and roads.
- Overuse of water makes life harder for everyone, especially for those people living in poor areas.
- Too much water used for farming can make soil unusable, which leads to the failure of crops. And make it harder for farmers to live.
Water Cycle
The water cycle is also known as the hydrological cycle. It is a continuous process driven by the sun, consisting of four main stages:
- Evaporation: Heat from the sun causes water from oceans and other bodies of water to evaporate, forming water vapour that rises and forms clouds.
- Condensation: Water vapour in the clouds cools and condenses into droplets.
- Precipitation: The condensed water droplets in the clouds fall back to Earth’s surface as rain or snow.
- Collection: Rainwater collects on the ground, flows into rivers, ponds, and wells, and eventually returns to the oceans.
Although about 97% of Earth’s surface is covered by water, only 2 to 3% is safe for drinking. The majority of Earth’s water is saltwater or frozen in glaciers, making it inaccessible for human use. Therefore, it is crucial to conserve water for future generations by reducing waste and adopting water-saving practices. Through conservation efforts, we can ensure the sustainability of this precious natural resource for future needs.
FAQs on Water Resources
What is the importance of water?
Water is vital for life. It's crucial for drinking, cooking, and cleaning, supporting healthy ecosystems, and enabling farming and food production. Water also plays a key role in industrial processes and energy production. Without water, there would be no life on Earth. It's important to conserve and manage water resources wisely to ensure a sustainable future for all living beings.
What do you mean by water scarcity?
Water Scarcity means the shortage of water and an imbalance between the demand and supply of water. And also a shortage of good-quality water.
What are the effects of the Exploitation of water resources?
Overuse of water makes life harder for everyone, especially to those people living in poor areas. Too much water used for farming can make soil unusable, which leads to the failure of crops. And make it harder for farmers to live.
What are the two main sources of water?
The two main sources of water are surface water and groundwater. Surface water includes rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, where water collects on the Earth's surface. Groundwater, on the other hand, is water found beneath the Earth's surface in soil or rock, accessible through wells and springs. Both sources are crucial for providing the water we use daily for drinking, farming, and industrial processes.
What is called water resources?
Water resources refer to the supply of water available from sources like rivers, lakes, groundwater, and rainwater that can be used to meet the needs of people, animals, and the environment. These resources are essential for drinking, agriculture, sanitation, and industrial activities. Managing water resources carefully is important to ensure there's enough clean water for all uses.
