[Biology Class Notes] on How can we Conserve Water? Pdf for EXAM

Water is essential to life, but there is a limited amount on earth. This means that we must use our limited supply carefully. Water conservation is important to protect our resources and ensure that everyone has access to this vital natural resource. Water conservation is a way to use Water efficiently. There are many ways to conserve water, from simply using less Water to making changes in your everyday routine.

The Importance of Conserving Water

Water is essential for life. Not only does it sustain all plant and animal life, but it is also necessary for human health. We need water to drink, cook, bathe, and grow our food. Unfortunately, we do not have an unlimited supply of Water. In fact, the majority of the world’s freshWater is trapped in glaciers and polar ice caps. Less than one percent of all the earth’s water is available for human use in lakes and rivers, and even less is available as groundWater (Clayton, 2000). As you can imagine, the demand for water is high. People need to drink and use water for many other reasons. Because there is limited Water available, we must learn to use our supplies carefully so that everyone has access to this precious natural resource. One way to do this is through Water Conservation.

What is Water Conservation?

Water Conservation is the use of Water efficiently. It means using less water to meet our needs and taking steps to protect our water resources. There are many ways to conserve water, from simple tips like turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth to more involved measures like installing low-flow toilets.

Why is Water Conservation Important?

Water is a precious natural resource that is essential for life. We must learn to use our Water resources wisely so that everyone has access to this vital resource. Through Water conservation, we can use our Water supplies more efficiently and protect our valuable resources.

Why do we Need to Conserve Water?

Water is one of the most important renewable resources found on earth. It, along with food and oxygen, is one of the most basic necessities of almost all life forms. Our biological processes are dependent on Water. Approximately 60% of our body consists of water. In our day-to-day life too, we need Water for a number of households uses apart from drinking; we perform tasks like washing clothes and utensils, taking a bath and cleaning our home, etc. 

We cannot imagine our life without water or with a shortage of Water. Although water is a renewable resource; thereby, it cannot be completely exhausted from the earth. Using too much of it or unwisely can have many nasty effects on our livelihood. 

Importance of Water Conservation

Water is perhaps the most abundant resource found on earth; nearly 71% of the surface of the earth is covered by water. There are various water bodies like the ocean, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oases. Most of the reservoir of water, i.e., 97% is in the ocean, 2% is in glaciers and icebergs, and the remaining 1% is in the inland water bodies like rivers, ponds, etc. Also, a minute fraction, i.e., 0.001%, is in the atmosphere. 

Out of the total amount of water on the earth, only about 0.3% is suitable for human beings. There are various factors that render a source of Water useless or even a nuisance to us; e.g., Water from the largest Waterbody, i.e., the ocean is not useful for us due to the high salt content; the Water is not useful for drinking, washing or any other activity. Water in the icebergs and glaciers is not practically easy to obtain for our consumption. Therefore, the small percentage of water, i.e., 0.3%, maybe too little for the consumption of the whole of humankind, and it is important for us to use it sparingly. 

The population of human beings, as of current statistics, is a staggering 7.8 billion (780 crores). The increasing population is adding to the water crisis. Meeting the needs of Water for everyone is getting more and more difficult. Besides, due to the exploding population, apart from the direct individual uses, other and indirect uses of water like for agricultural needs, are making it even more difficult to meet everybody’s Water requirements. Things like global warming cause less rainfall every year; as a result, the useful sources of Water are not fully restored. Wastage of Water can further add to the scarcity of water. 

Some of the Important Ways of Water Conservation

Conserving Water is simpler than we think. It does not involve any extra effort but to cut down our use or to use Water judiciously. Here are some methods as follows:

1. Closing the tap as soon as the use is finished.

2. Closing any possible leaks in the taps, piping, and storage of Water like tanks. 

3. Making alternative uses of wasteWater, e.g., letting the drainage of the toilet in the farm, thus avoiding additional Water for farming, and using wasteWater after cleaning utensils and clothes to flush toilets. 

4. Using dynamics of Water for uses like flushing, e.g., throwing Water from a height with a correct angle, can help us cut down on the use of Water for that purpose.

5. Closing the lids of Water containers or tanks, especially those that are exposed to the sun, will reduce water evaporation and help us use it conservatively. 

6. Using Water sensibly and sparingly, i.e., avoiding too much Water for domestic activities. 

7. Avoiding the making of Water bodies like swimming pools in areas where water shortage is a big concern.

8. Watering the farm during the evening time will result in less evaporation of water. 

9. Rainwater harvesting is collecting Water from the rain. The added source of water, i.e., Water harvested from the rain, will be very helpful for at least a few months after the rainy season, if not for the whole year. 

10. Planting trees in the open Water bodies will keep the water from evaporation. The Water can be naturally recycled for the production of fruits and vegetables. Planting trees in a huge number can reduce the carbon footprint and lower the effects of global warming, which will help timely rainfall.