The Importance of Water
Life, both
animal and plant, is impossible without water. Without water men die of
dehydration About 70% of the human body is water. Of the total surface of the
earth, 75 % is water and just below the surface of the land in most areas there
is a saturated layer known as the water table. Animals and plants have large
percentages of water in their make-up and some animals regulate their movements
according to the water sources.
If there is no water there can be
no life. The moon is a sterile desert because there is no water in it. It is to
be remembered that it was water that determined the location of human
settlements and without the Nile the Egyptian Civilization would not have
developed The Nile provided the Egyptians facilities for irrigation and
transport. As Herodotus said, Egypt is the "Gift of the Nile".
The urban man rarely thinks of the importance of water. When he needs water,
all he has to do is to turn on the tap. The only time the urban folk become
aware of the importance of water is when there is a drought and their water
supply is regulated. If water rationing becomes too drastic. they may find
themselves in a worse position than the rural man who may have a steady supply
of water from his well.
Imagine a day when the taps ran dry: Mr. Townsman would have found life
intolerable. He could not brush his teeth, have his shave or could he have his
bath in the morning. After lunch, he would have had a very difficult time
trying to wash up. He might have used cloth to wipe his crockery. He could not
wash his car. At the end of the day, however, our Mr. Townsman would have
realized that water is precious and he should not be a water-waster. Scientists
find water the most fascinating fluid in the world because of its versatility
and usefulness. Electricity is generated by the force of running water.
Unlike other substances, water
expands when freezing takes place. In ancient Rome snow was used to pack prawns
and meat. Ice is used for refrigeration. Water is converted into steam and used
as power.
Whatever man eats is dependent on water for its growth. Water can convert
whole, barren tracts of land into luxurious, rich and fertile regions, through
the use of irrigation. In parts of Spain, diminishing quantities of rain have
caused fertile land to dry up in the past years, creating barren deserts. This
is turn has caused many men and their families to move to new places.
Most of us who take our daily supply of water for granted. may not be able to fully appreciate the importance of water. Many have perished through lack of water. Military men know that the most effective way of subduing any city or fortress is to cut its water supply.