Did you know?
- • 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. The oceans store most of Earth’s water, but some is frozen in ice caps or glaciers, some water is vapor in the air.
- • Less
than 1% of Earth’s water can be used for drinking.
- • The Atlantic Ocean is the saltiest ocean on Earth.
- • Every time you take a shower, you might use up to 50 gallons of water.
- • A swimming pool may contain over 25,000 gallons of water.
- • Nearly 70% of your body is made up of water.
- • The Nile River in Africa is the longest river on earth. It is 4,184 miles long.
Have you noticed it can be very hot and dry in Tucson? Southern Arizona is located in the Sonoran Desert. Tucson receives an average of 8 to 12 inches of rain each year. That’s not much. It’s very important we take care of all the water we get. To make sure we have enough water for the future, we have to use our water wisely now and help keep it clean. See how the WATER CYCLE works.
Water is one of the most important natural resources for life and good health. Although it may seem like we have an unlimited amount of water, one in three people in the world don’t have enough water for their daily needs. As cities and communities grow, the need for water increases and the water scarcity problem gets worse.
How we use water
- • Pets, wild animals, plants and humans need water to drink.
- • Water helps us keep cool and have fun. Fishing, boating, swimming,
and water skiing all require water.
- • We use water to cook, to wash dishes, clothes and ourselves,
and to brush our teeth.
- • Water is used to generate electricity, in mining, irrigation, and farming.
- • Can you name three more ways we use water?
How do we conserve the Earth’s water?
- • Take brief showers and don't fill the bathtub all the way.
- • Check to make sure that there aren’t any leaky faucets or toilets in your house.
- • Turn off the water when you brush your teeth.
- • Clean up after your pets to help prevent storm water pollution when it rains.
- • Ask your parents to use the dishwasher and washing machine only when there is a full load.
- • Collect rain water and use it to water your plants. Rain water harvesting is easy and inexpensive.
What if you had to go to a well or a river each morning, and carry back all the water that you need for the day? Do you think you would use the water differently? Think about what you would use it for. How many trips to the well or river would it take to fill your bathtub or your swimming pool?