WATER : A NATURAL RESOURCE

WHAT ARE NATURAL RESOURCES?

Substances and features of the earth that allow the existence of life and satisfy the needs of living organisms are called natural resources.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF NATURAL RESOURCES

LAND AIR

WATER

SUNLIGHT

What is renewable and nonrenewable resources

Renewable resources
Are those that will never run out or are renewed through relatively rapid natural cycles Some example: sun and groundwater is replenished through the water cycle

Non-renewable resources
Are those that once used up

are exhausted that take millions of years to form and hence are not renewed once used up Some examples: coal ,oil , natural gas

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE (AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK!)

Sources of water ?
Oceans and seas Oceans are the ultimate source of all water on earth. Rainwater Another major source of water. In India large areas of agriculture land depends on rainwater for irrigation. Groundwater Ground water is the rainwater that seeps through soil and collects over non-porous rocks. Surface water Rainwater that runs off on the surface of the earth is called surface water. Frozen water A huge amount of water in the Arctic and Antarctic oceans exist in the frozen state.

States of water ?
Water can exist in all three stages solid, liquid and gas. Ice is water in the solid state. Water that you drink is in the liquid state. Water vapour is water in the gas state. Water can exist in all three states- solid, liquid and gas at different temperatures. The state of water can be changed by changing the temperature, that is by heating or cooling. Below 0C, water can exist in the solid state as ice. Between 0C and 100C, water exists mostly in liquid state. A part of water also exist in gaseous state as water vapour. Above 100C, water exist in the gaseous state as steam.

Importance of water?
Animals as well as plants need water to survive and grow. Most life processes in animals and plants occur in the medium of water. Water also helps animals to keep cool. The blood in our body is mostly water. Water also helps to keep our muscles and joints running smoothly. Plants use water along with carbon dioxide to make food through photosynthesis. Seeds cannot germinate without water

The water cycle

Water conservation?
There are some ways to conserve water. Some ways by which we can conserve water are as follows. Avoiding wastage of water and recycling water wherever possible Planting trees and other vegetation as they help in absorption of water by the soil.
Reducing water pollution by treating sewage and industrial wastes before disposing them

Controlling flood and storing rainwater by building dams. However, the construction of big dams has its disadvantages too; it destroys wildlife in large areas. Also, silt gathers in the reservoir over the years and it may become less useful. Rainwater harvesting , which consist of storing rainwater, either in tanks, or directing it into deep holes in the ground to replenished groundwater. Two common methods of rainwater harvesting are: To allow rainwater from concrete buildings and roads to flow into deep pits in the ground so that it directly replenishes groundwater. Rooftop harvesting : It consist of collecting and storing rainwater falling on roofs of buildings in tanks for use later. Alternatively, the water is allowed to flow into a deep pit in the ground, to replenished groundwater.