Water Resources

Water is a precious resource. Water is vital to life. Humans, plants, and animals are made up of mostly water. All living things would die if it weren't for water. We use water for drinking, washing, cleaning, cooking, and growing our food as well as many other things.

Household uses:Common household uses consume a lot of water e.g for taking baths, washing clothes, preparing food, washing dishes, washing hands, shaving and brushing our teeth. Much of our fresh water is also used outdoors for watering lawns, flower beds, and vegetable gardens, as well as washing cars.

Uses of water in cities:Every town and city, whether small or big, uses water. Cities use water for firefighting, street cleaning, and watering public areas such as parks, grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers. Lots of water is also used by restaurants, hospitals, laundries, dry cleaners, golf courses, hotels, car washes, beauty shops, barber shops and gas stations.

Agriculture:The amount of water needed to run a farm is tremendous. All the animals in a farmyard need drinking water to stay alive. Water is also required in the cooling systems used to keep production meat fresh. Vegetable and grain crops also require water. Water is used in spreading fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, which produce a greater crop yield. Most of the water used on farms is used for irrigation.Hydroelectric plants:Hydroelectric plants are the largest users of water. Hydroelectric plants capture the kinetic energy of falling water to make electricity for a whole country

Industries:Water is also essential in industry. It is heated and the steam is used to run machinery. Water is used to cool hot metal such as in the production of steel. Water is also used to cool the air. It is an important element in many products like chemicals, drugs, lotions, shampoos, cosmetics, cleaners, and also beverages. Water is used in processing food and in innumerable factories and industrial processes including the manufacturing of paper.