Why is water important in our …

Water is essential for life. All the living things (plants and animals) need water to live. We need water for drinking, cooking food, washing utensils, cleaning floor, brushing teeth, bathing, washing clothes, flushing toilets and watering plants.

Some of the important uses of water in different fields are as follows:

1) Water is used in homes for drinking, cooking food, washing utensils, cleaning floor, brushing teeth, bathing, washing clothes, flushing toilets and watering plants. These are the domestic uses of water. Water is also used by animals for drinking purposes.

2) Water is used in agriculture for growing food.Water is needed to grow all kinds of crop plants which provide us food. The largest amount of water is used for irrigation of crops in agriculture. Water of ponds, lakes and rivers is used for growing fish (which is used as food by many people)

3) Water is used in industries for producing almost all the things that we use. The making of paper, cloth, medicines, chemicals, bread, biscuits, and many, many other things in industries requires a lot of water.

4) Water is used to keep things cool. For example: water is used in the radiators of vehicles (like cars, buses and trucks) to keep their engines cool.

5) Water in the rivers and the seas is used for transporting passengers and goods from one place to another by boats, sailing boats, motor boats and ships.

6) Water of rivers and the sea helps in the dispersal of seeds of several plants and trees.The seeds of various plants and trees located near the banks of rivers and sea-shores fall on the water of rivers and the sea. These seeds float on water and are carried away to far away places. When these seeds reach the land, they germinate to produce plants and trees in that area.

7) Water is used to generate electricity: At a hydroelectric power plant, water stored in a high dam is allowed to fall gradually from a great height. This fast moving water turns the turbines (water-wheels). The rotating turbines then run the generators which produce electricity. At thermal power plants, water is boiled to make steam (by burning coal, oil or gas). The high pressure steam turns the steam turbines. The rotating steam turbines run the generators which produce electricity.