• In :
• Personal Growth

April 2015

The most important of all components of our life is the free flowing liquid we see around “water “. It is a necessity for our own existence. Birds, animals , plants human beings. We all need water for our very survival. Human body is 70% water and if we lose even 2 litres we may suffer from acute dehydration, dizziness and lethargy.

Plants need it for growing , birds and animals for surviving, we humans for every second need of ours. Drinking, cooking, bathing everything. The very soul of our physical existence, the amrit …

Water has played a role not only in the history of countries, but in religion, mythology, and art. Water in many religions is used for cleansing the soul. Our own Ganges is considered to be holy and pious. The water at Lourdes, France is said to be holy water with healing powers.”The Nu” was the beginning of everything and represented water. It brought life to their people, but in drought, produced chaos.

Our Ignorance

But are we really cautious in using this precious natural resource.? Inspite of knowing that only 2.5% of the water is freshwater ,the rate with which our water resources are being wasted and polluted is alarming. More than consumption they are wasted and polluted. Be it in form of a leaking tap or a damaged pipe. Todays time require a ver judicious use of water. We, as the major consumers must understand this. But the human race is not only negligent but also ignorant about this very important issue. We are not only contaminating our present resources but also wasting them at an alarming rate.

The Process

The water or hydrologic cycle explains interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. The water or hydrologic cycle is a major driving force on our planet. Water is in constant motion, evaporating into the atmosphere from oceans, lakes, rivers and streams. When the atmosphere can no longer support the moisture within the clouds, we experience rain, snow, hail, or sleet. Some water is locked in the form of ice at the polar caps and in glaciers. Water melts in the spring, producing runoff, that percolates through the Earth as groundwater (subsurface) or makes its way back to the sea (surface). The oceans contain most of the water, but it is salt water which is unusable by most organisms. Only pure H2O (water) can interact with organisms.

Reasons of deteorating quality of water and scarcity:

• Increasing population leading to increased use and also wastage.
• Not properly checked industrial usage. Dumping of Sewage and other wastes as well as dumping of radio active waste in the water bodies is affecting the quality of water adversely.
• Ignored rain harvesting ideas.
• Deforestation and vegetation destruction: Trees help excessive evaporation of water. Due to excessive deforestation not only our environment is deteorating but the moist soil is exposed to extreme heat leaving it to dry out. Such imbalances are leading to climatic changes also which further result in either floods or draughts. Both ways clean water supply is affected.

There may be various more ways in which see water being wasted and polluted everyday. Any kind of wastage from our side prevents someone else from drinking clean water. Use of contaminated water may lead to increase in water borne diseases and affect the quality of life.

As aware and educated citizens we are aware of the small little ways in which we can save water. Mopping your car and drive way rather than washing . Reuse of wasted water from RO s. Introducing rain harvesting in our homes. Telling our children to judiciously use water while bathing. Take a bucket bath rather than showers. To encourage people around us to save water.

How much I remember the old song,”allah megh de paani de…” .It is gift from gods lets respect it and not waste even a bit of it.

This article is based on “The Elixir for life” published in Life Positive, June 2014.