The Importance of Water

     Water has always been a very important commodity to all living things of survival since the beginning of time. There is no doubt that nothing can survive without water. Homo sapiens, animals, birds, insects, and plants all depend on water to survive.

     The reason why water is so important is that we can alter our diet according to the climate of a place but there is no substitute for water. Human beings have always looked for fresh water to quench their thirst from the beginning.

     Besides being able to quench our thirst, water also acts as a source of food for us. Every day, we catch large quantities of fish, crabs, prawns, and other marine creatures from the sea. We also use water to irrigate lands to produce crops for food. However, many parts of the world are dry and barren because of a lack of water. People living in such areas lead harsh lives. Even the plants and animals in these areas have to struggle for survival. This is because they can obtain water only by some means of ingenuity. Water also plays a great role in fertilizing the land in several parts of the world. The alluvium in rivers is very fertile and it yields a large number of crops. Even electricity, which is essential to our everyday lives, is produced by hydro-power in many countries.

     Furthermore, water is a very important means of communication. Even now, we use waterways to carry our goods for trade and also to transport people. Water transport is much cheaper than land transport. In many remote areas, rivers are the only way of communication. In timber-producing countries, rivers are also used to transport timber from the hills to lower areas where the timber mills are. In this way, transportation cost is saved. 

     However, water also has its disadvantages. Water has caused much destruction to life and property throughout human history. Floods caused by heavy rainfall, swollen rivers, and the huge waves of the sea during the Tsunami have killed thousands of living things and destroyed crops and homes. Yet, water is still important to live, and everywhere, people are still trying their best to bring water to places of drought. People are also still finding ways to control its flow to prevent floods and to make greater use of it. (388 words)

Glossary~~~

Homo sapiens - the primate species to which modern humans belong; humans are regarded as a species.

Alter - change in character or composition, typically in a comparatively small but significant way.

Quench - satisfy.

Irrigate - verb (used with object), ir·ri·gat·ed, ir·ri·gat·ing. to supply (land) with water by artificial means, such as by diverting streams, flooding, or spraying.

Barren - desert land.

Ingenuity - the quality of being clever, original, and inventive.

Alluvium - a deposit of clay, silt, and sand left by flowing floodwater in a river valley or delta, typically producing fertile soil.

Hydro-power - hydropower, or hydroelectric power, is a renewable source of energy that generates power by using a dam or diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a river or other body of water.

Timber - wood prepared for use in building and carpentry.

Mills - a factory fitted with machinery for a particular manufacturing process.