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Factfile I Links

Water is the most common substance found on Earth.

Water is the only substance on Earth which is naturally found in the three states of matter: solid (ice), liquid and gas (water vapour).

Water is a vital aspect of our lives. We use water for many different purposes:

• Drinking
• Washing
• Industry
• Agriculture
• Leisure/Recreation

The amount of water on Earth has remained the same since the planet was first formed. This sounds a strange thing to say considering some countries are experiencing droughts and major water shortages.

We expect to turn on the tap and "Hey, presto!" out it comes: clean, clear plentiful water. However, our demand for fresh water has grown over the centuries.

Water influences where people live and how they live. From the earliest time, humans have attempted to control water by building dams and irrigation systems. Water has become an important producer of energy.

Not all human uses are positive. Pollution and mismanagement have threatened the water supply of this planet. Together with this comes the issue of water quality and the safety of tap water. Only in the last twenty years has bottled water become a major profit making concern. We need to ask ourselves why this has happened.

In this new millennium, water will be one of the most important issues facing human society.

Water Facts:

· 80% of the Earth's surface is water.

· 97% of the Earth's water is the oceans and seas.

· Each day the Sun evaporates 1,000,000,000,000 tons of water.

· 66% of your body is water.

· Human blood is 83% water.

· All the fresh water we get comes as rain.

· The UK receives around 250 million cubic metres of rain each year.

· The UK is thought to use one billion cubic metres of water each year. This is only 0.005% of the total rainfall received.

· Over 1 billion people lack access to adequate water.

· 2 out of 3 people will be living with water shortages by 2025.

· Every day each person in the UK uses 150 litres of water.

· Every new car manufactured uses about 9000 litres of water.

· Watering the garden uses approximately 20-25 litres of water per minute.

· A garden sprinkler uses as much water in half an hour as a family of four in a day.

· Taking showers rather than baths could save enough water every week to make 1000 cups of tea.