How is Water Used?

Did you know that over 60 percent of the human body is water?
Did you know that most people couldn't live more than three days without fresh water?
Did you know that all living things depend on water in some way?

Fresh water is a key to life on earth.

While water keeps the planet alive, it also has a variety of other uses. Think about the different ways you use water every day. Here are some examples of the ways water is used:

Households use a lot of water. Water is needed for drinking, cooking, cleaning (our bodies, clothing, house, etc.), gardening and flushing toilets.

Farming: It takes water to make things grow! Water is one of the key ingredients needed to grow food. Rainfall alone is not enough to keep crops growing and healthy in some places. That is why farmers use irrigation systems. Irrigation (storing water and watering fields) makes it possible to farm in drier climates.

Recreation: What do you do for fun in the water? Swimming, boating, fishing, skiing and ice-skating are all water-related activities. The list goes on. Can you think of other ways recreation involves water?

Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment: It takes water to clean water! Animal waste that washes into water supplies carries bacteria, or germs that cause disease. If you drink water directly from many lakes, ponds or rivers, there's a good chance you could get sick. Because of this, the fresh water many people use is cleaned at a water treatment plant to make it safe to drink.

Also, the water flushed down toilets and sinks and drained from household appliances is treated, or made safe, before it is released back into rivers and lakes. If we didn't clean the water after we used it, our rivers and lakes would be more polluted.

Electricity: Water is used to make energy. Rivers are dammed and the water falling from the dam turns a turbine to make electricity. For more information, see RMI for Kids: Energy.

Industry: Factories use water to cool and clean machinery. Factories use water to help make food, paper, clothing, cars, toys, you name it!

Plants and Animals: Water also provides important habitat for many animals. A wide variety of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects all use wetlands, streams, lakes, rivers and oceans for at least part of their habitat needs. That means that animals find food, shelter, drinking water and space near or in water. Because plants and animals live in or near the earth's water supply, it is important to keep it clean.

Think about all the ways plants and animals use water. Many animal and plant life cycles depend on it. For example, salamanders, like many other animals, lay their eggs in water. Without water, all life would disappear!