WATER USE AND OVER-UTILIZATION

WATER USE AND OVER-UTILIZATION

(i)                 Fresh Water Resource

Fresh water resources range from pond to lake and large rivers.it has following chracterstics:

(a)   Fresh wter is inexhaustible, however it is being made available again by oceans through hydrological cycle.

(b)   Out of available 2.5 percent 1.97 percent is stored in glacier and ice caps.and0.24 percent is ground water and soil moisture . remaining 0.02 percent is found in lakes , rivers , streams and swamps,soil (0.01 %) and atmosphere (0.001%) etc. Out of total water evapourated from ocean 77 % falls to the ocean and remaining 16 % falls on the land. This water is utilized by the various terrestrial ecosystem.

About 84% of total of total global evapouration takes place from ocean surface and remaining 16% from land surface.more than 75% of rain fall on the earth is receved on the sea surface.

(c)    Fresh water is essential for life  on  earth aswell as for survival of human race.

(d)   Total 97% is ocean water. The ocean water cannot be consumed by humanbeings. Remaining three percent(fresh water) is available for human consumption.

Ground water is use ful in  :

(i)                 It provides soil moisture for plant growth.

(ii)               It is commonly used for human consumption.

(iii)             It supplements water in streams.

(e)   This water is used by human beings for drinking ,cooking,bathing,cleaning etc.

(f)      Fresh water is also required for various types of industries.

(g)    It is required for irrigation purposes(agriculture).

(h)   It is required for construction of buildings.

(i)     It requires for transportation, hydel power etc.

(ii)               Ocean Resources

Ocean can be used in the following aspects :

1.      As a source of food and other edible animals mainly fishes.

2.      As a source of edible sea weed as many brown algae(kelps) etc.

3.      For the production of many use ful products such as algin,agar,carrageenan,diatomitic etc.

4.      For generating power from sea tides.

5.      For the extraction on commen salt.

6.      Mineral concentrates is the form of  minerals nodules can be used for the sources of various minerals.

7.      Planning floating cities on the ocean surface is under way.

8.      It is used  for commercial navigation and shipping.

9.      Pearls produced by pearl oysters form valuable jewellery.

            IMPORTANCE OF WATER

The importance of water of the life of plants can be emphasised best by enlisting its functions:

1.      Water is the main constituent of protoplasm.

2.      It is the solvent through which the mineral salts are transported from one part of plant to the other part.

3.      Various matebolic reactions takes place in medium  containing water.

4.      It act as numerious matebolic reactions.

5.      During photosynthesis, water releases oxygen.

6.      Turgidity of the growing cells is maintained with water.

7.      Various movements of plant organs  like movement in sensitive plant (touc me not) is controlled by water.

8.      The growth of cell is mainly dependent on absorption of water.

9.      Matebolic end product of respiration is water.

In India ,70% of water withdrawn is utilised in agriculture sector .about 93% of water ,in India is used for agriculture.Global average consumption of water is 25%. In developingin countries this consumption may be low as 5%.