Water, Take Care of It!
Water is important to all of life on our planet. Only 1% of the Earth's water is usable. The rest of the Earth's water is either salt water or is frozen at the polar caps at the North and South Poles. As the world's population grows it is important to wisely use our water supply.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day. The largest use is toilet flushing, followed by showers and baths.* Wow! That is a lot.
Water is also needed in the agricultural industry. Farmers use water to help grow crops. Ranchers need water for their cattle and crops that they feed to the cattle. Without water humans would have a hard time getting the food we need.
We must work together to take care of our water supply. Polluted water is of no use to anyone! Water becomes poluted when people pour products such a grease, paint or oil on the ground or down the drain. People pollute water by throwing trash into lakes or streams. Some water pollution is cause naturally when rainwater washes dirt into streams. Proper disposal of paint and oil keeps it from washing into creeks and ponds. Runoff can be stopped by not completely clearing land of trees or putting up barriers to prevent runoff. Builders put up the plastic barriers to prevent erosion of land when they are building new houses or other types of buildings. We can also encourage others to keep the environment clean.
We can protect our water resources through water conservation. Water conservation practices include checking for leaky faucets, turning off the water when you brush your teeth, making sure the dishwasher is full before turning it on, or using a broom to sweep sidewalks instead of water from a hose. When you take a short shower instead of filling a bathtub, you are conserving water. You could even volunteer to help clean up an area so that pollution doesn't get into the ground water. Of course recycling helps keep trash out of landfills and out of water supplies. Every little bit helps!
Remember Water is a Key to Life on Earth!
Your Turn!
Research ways we can protect our water resources.
The USGS Water Science School* is a great place to start on your journey to learn more about water.
Find other websites that give tips or ideas for water conservation. Post your the URL of the website to the class Water Wiki. Follow the directions on the wiki to complete your projects.
Return Home
*Information courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey, Department of Interior
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) each person uses about 80-100 gallons of water per day. The largest use is toilet flushing, followed by showers and baths.* Wow! That is a lot.
Water is also needed in the agricultural industry. Farmers use water to help grow crops. Ranchers need water for their cattle and crops that they feed to the cattle. Without water humans would have a hard time getting the food we need.
We must work together to take care of our water supply. Polluted water is of no use to anyone! Water becomes poluted when people pour products such a grease, paint or oil on the ground or down the drain. People pollute water by throwing trash into lakes or streams. Some water pollution is cause naturally when rainwater washes dirt into streams. Proper disposal of paint and oil keeps it from washing into creeks and ponds. Runoff can be stopped by not completely clearing land of trees or putting up barriers to prevent runoff. Builders put up the plastic barriers to prevent erosion of land when they are building new houses or other types of buildings. We can also encourage others to keep the environment clean.
We can protect our water resources through water conservation. Water conservation practices include checking for leaky faucets, turning off the water when you brush your teeth, making sure the dishwasher is full before turning it on, or using a broom to sweep sidewalks instead of water from a hose. When you take a short shower instead of filling a bathtub, you are conserving water. You could even volunteer to help clean up an area so that pollution doesn't get into the ground water. Of course recycling helps keep trash out of landfills and out of water supplies. Every little bit helps!
Remember Water is a Key to Life on Earth!
Your Turn!
Research ways we can protect our water resources.
The USGS Water Science School* is a great place to start on your journey to learn more about water.
Find other websites that give tips or ideas for water conservation. Post your the URL of the website to the class Water Wiki. Follow the directions on the wiki to complete your projects.
Return Home
*Information courtesy of the U. S. Geological Survey, Department of Interior