Facts about Water

75% of the earth's surface is covered with water, More than 97% of the earth's water is in its oceans, About 2% of the available drinking water is frozen leaving only 1% for drinking , The world's average rainfall is about 850 mm, Water regulates the Earth's temperature. It also regulates the temperature of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, and removes waste, 60% - 75% of the adult human body is water - 82% of blood is water; 70% of the brain and 90% of the lungs are made up of water.

Blood in animals and sap in plants is composed mainly of water, To cook 1 cup of rice you need 2 cups of water but to wash the pan in which it has been cooked you need 4-5 litres of water, A dripping tap can waste up to 6 litres of water in a day, More than half the creatures on the Earth are found under water, Life on earth probably originated in water, In the summer our bodies require about 2 litres of water daily. Here is the water content of some foods (approximate) - 95% in tomato, 91% in spinach, 91% in milk, 85% in apples and 80% in potatoes .

10% of the earth's surface is covered with ice There are more than one billion people particularly in North Africa and Western and South Asia, who lack access to a steady supply of clean water. Access to water and sanitation, so crucial to human well-being and development, has now become a priority for the international community. To underscore the need for immediate action, the United Nations has designated 2003 as the International Year of Freshwater. The importance given to water in ancient India is reflected in several hymns of the Vedas and epics and narratives from other valuable works such as the Arthasastra of Kautilya.

A large amount of water is wasted in agriculture, industry, and urban areas. It has been estimated that with available technologies and better operational practices, agricultural water demand could be cut by about 50%, and that in urban areas by about 33% without affecting the quality or economics of life. But most governments do not have adequate laws or regulations to protect their water systems. Due to the increase in population there has been a rise in the demand for food, space for housing, consumer products, etc., which has in turn resulted in increased industrialization, urbanization, and demands in agriculture thereby leading to both river and groundwater contamination.