The Water Cycle
Understanding water begins at the highest level with understanding the water cycle, or hydrological cycle. It describes the continuous movement of water in its various states (liquid, solid, vapor) on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. During every step of its epic travels, our planet’s water cycle provides the very essentials of life.
The quantity of water on our planet remains constant, but its rate of movement and distribution varies drastically. For instance, water evaporating from oceans can return to the ocean in the form of rain in a matter of days. But if that water were to fall on land or on ice caps as snow, it could take thousands of years to make its way back to the ocean through underground aquifers or melting glaciers.
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Source – Wikipedia
We often naively think the Earth has an abundance of water, and that we’ll never run out. But 97% of the Earth’s water is held in saltwater oceans, with less than 1% available for human use – in freshwater lakes, rivers, and groundwater sources. Increasingly, human activities are rendering some of these sources unusable due to critical depletion, salinification, and pollution. And now climate change is one more factor affecting the supply of water we depend on.
Water Myths & Facts
Myth: We have less water today than we did 100 years ago.
Fact: There is the same amount of water on Earth today as three billion years ago. Today, however, our society demands more from this finite resource. These increased demands have, in a sense, created a different kind of water: water that is regulated, treated, and sold. Because of this, drinking water availability depends on everyone lending a hand to conserve, protect, and participate in decisions that positively affect our water resources.
Myth: Once you use water, it is gone.
Fact: After water is used, it’s recycled innumerable times. In fact, while some water is recycled for use within a week, other water may not be used again for many years.
Further Resources
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