How Is Water Important?
Imagine a world without water. The planet is a barren desert. There are no cool green forests or deep oceans. The world is silent- no rain falls on rooftops; no birds or other animals stir. No clouds shield the planet from the hot sun. Even the shape of the land is different. Without water to wear them down. The mountains are jagged and rough. There are no Great Lakes, Niagara Falls, and no Grand Canyon.
Can you imagine living in such a world? In fact, you could not survive there. The presence of water is essential for life to exist on the planet Earth. In this section, you will explore the ways that all living things depend on water.
How do people use Water?
Take a minute to list all of the ways you used Water this morning. You probably washed your face, brushed your teeth, and flushed the toilet. Perhaps you drank a glass of water or used water to make oatmeal. These are some common uses of water in the home. But the water people use at home is just a small percentage of all the water used in the United States. In addition to household purposes, people use water for agriculture, industry, transportation, and recreation.
Agriculture
Has your family ever had a garden? If so, you know that growing fruits and vegetables requires water on a range farm, a constant supply of fresh water is essential. Growing the wheat to make a single loaf of bread takes 435 liters of water, enough to fill, 1200 soft drink cans!
However, some parts of the united states don't receive enough regular rainfall for agriculture. For example, parts of California's central valley receive less than 26 centimeters of rain a year yet this area is one of the most productive farming regions in the country. How is it possible to farm in this dry place? This solution is irrigation. Irrigation is the process of supplying water to areas of land to make them suitable for growing crops. In the united states, more water is used for irrigating farmland than for any other single purpose.
Industry
Think about the objects in a typical school locker. There's a jacket, some textbooks, a few pens without caps, and maybe a basketball or a flute for band practice. Did you know that water is needed to produce all these objects? even though water is not part of the final products, it plays a role in the industrial processes that created them. For example, water is needed to make the paper in the textbooks. Wood chips are washed and then soaked in vats of water and chemicals to form pulp. The pulp is rinsed again, squeezed dry, and pressed into paper.
Industries use water in many other ways. For example, powerplants and steel mills both need huge volumes of water to cool down not machinery. Water that is used for cooling can often be recycled or used again for another purpose.
Transportation
Imagine a world without water. The planet is a barren desert. There are no cool green forests or deep oceans. The world is silent- no rain falls on rooftops; no birds or other animals stir. No clouds shield the planet from the hot sun. Even the shape of the land is different. Without water to wear them down. The mountains are jagged and rough. There are no Great Lakes, Niagara Falls, and no Grand Canyon.
Can you imagine living in such a world? In fact, you could not survive there. The presence of water is essential for life to exist on the planet Earth. In this section, you will explore the ways that all living things depend on water.
How do people use Water?
Take a minute to list all of the ways you used Water this morning. You probably washed your face, brushed your teeth, and flushed the toilet. Perhaps you drank a glass of water or used water to make oatmeal. These are some common uses of water in the home. But the water people use at home is just a small percentage of all the water used in the United States. In addition to household purposes, people use water for agriculture, industry, transportation, and recreation.
Agriculture
Has your family ever had a garden? If so, you know that growing fruits and vegetables requires water on a range farm, a constant supply of fresh water is essential. Growing the wheat to make a single loaf of bread takes 435 liters of water, enough to fill, 1200 soft drink cans!
However, some parts of the united states don't receive enough regular rainfall for agriculture. For example, parts of California's central valley receive less than 26 centimeters of rain a year yet this area is one of the most productive farming regions in the country. How is it possible to farm in this dry place? This solution is irrigation. Irrigation is the process of supplying water to areas of land to make them suitable for growing crops. In the united states, more water is used for irrigating farmland than for any other single purpose.
Industry
Think about the objects in a typical school locker. There's a jacket, some textbooks, a few pens without caps, and maybe a basketball or a flute for band practice. Did you know that water is needed to produce all these objects? even though water is not part of the final products, it plays a role in the industrial processes that created them. For example, water is needed to make the paper in the textbooks. Wood chips are washed and then soaked in vats of water and chemicals to form pulp. The pulp is rinsed again, squeezed dry, and pressed into paper.
Industries use water in many other ways. For example, powerplants and steel mills both need huge volumes of water to cool down not machinery. Water that is used for cooling can often be recycled or used again for another purpose.
Transportation
If you live near a large waterway, you have probably seen barges carrying heavy loads of coal or iron. Oceans and rivers have been used for transporting people and goods since ancient times. If you look at a map of the united states. You will notice that many large cities are located on the coasts. Ocean travel led to the growth of port cities such as Boston, New York, and San Fransisco. In early America, rivers also served as natural highways. St. Louis, Memphis, and Baton Rouge are some cities that began as trading posts along the Mississippi River.
If you live near a large waterway, you have probably seen barges carrying heavy loads of coal or iron. Oceans and rivers have been used for transporting people and goods since ancient times. If you look at a map of the united states. You will notice that many large cities are located on the coasts. Ocean travel led to the growth of port cities such as Boston, New York, and San Fransisco. In early America, rivers also served as natural highways. St. Louis, Memphis, and Baton Rouge are some cities that began as trading posts along the Mississippi River.
Recreation
Do you like to swim in a neighborhood pool? Catch fish from a rowboat in the middle of a lake? Walk along a beach collecting seashells? or maybe just sit on the edge of a dock and dangle your feet in the water? Then you know some ways water is used for recreation. And if you brave the winter cold to ski or skate, you are enjoying the water in its frozen form.
Recreation
Do you like to swim in a neighborhood pool? Catch fish from a rowboat in the middle of a lake? Walk along a beach collecting seashells? or maybe just sit on the edge of a dock and dangle your feet in the water? Then you know some ways water is used for recreation. And if you brave the winter cold to ski or skate, you are enjoying the water in its frozen form.
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