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.