Why is Water Important?
Explore why water is so important in the world…
Water is an essential element to life and lies at the heart of our existence on Earth.
It makes up 71% of the earth’s surface, and 96.5% of that is in our oceans, of which 97% is salt, 2% is trapped in glaciers and less than 1% fresh making it a vital resource.
This means its availability and its responsible management is essential for the sustainability of life and the environment.
We can only truly grasp the magnitude of water by understanding the reasoning behind its importance,
So why water is important:
Sustaining Life
Water cycles through the atmosphere and onto wetlands, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Its main functions are to provide a habitat for species, a breeding ground for water life and the nutrients and minerals necessary for their growth.
Climate Regulation
Water is needed to regulate the heat and moisture around the world through the water cycle. It acts a control of climate change by influencing weather patterns and maintaining the Earth’s temperature.
Landscapes
Water is an important feature in both natural and built landscapes. It has shaped the way natural landscapes are carved through processes such as erosion. It also helps make built landscapes feel calmer and more aesthetically appealing.
Transportation
Water is an important transport medium, allowing life to be able to get from one place to another via the likes of swimming, sailing etc. It especially benefits industries such as trade, tourism, agricultural and fisheries.
Generating Energy
Water can be used as a renewable energy source called hydropower and is the fourth largest renewable energy source in the UK. It works by using water stored in damns, which flows through a turbine that is connected to a generator that produces electricity. In the long term, it is a great eco-friendly and safe option. However, the construction of a dam can be hugely disastrous to the upstream and downstream processes and ecology of a stream/river.
In summary, water is vital to all life forms therefore, it is fundamentally important that we conserve and manage water responsibly, especially clean water to ensure it is not depleted.