Thousands lived without love, but none without water.
My throat was parched,
My lips were dry,
Was my cry.
I squeezed my eyes,
Far to see.
To find some water,
Or find a tree.
Not a drop was there,
Nor a plant, nor tree.
For rivers and forests,
Water is life. Without water life is not possible. Every living being needs water for survival. We all know that three fourths of the world is covered by water. Of this 97% is found in oceans and salt lakes as saline water , and only 3% of it is sweet water. Most of this sweet water, about 2%, exists in the form of glaciers at the poles ,as perma-frosts, ice-caps, water vapour in the atmosphere as well as soil moisture. That leaves 1% of the earth’s water resources fit for consumption. This water is found on land in forms of rivers, lakes, ponds , wells and as underground water in aquifers.
This 1% sweet water is the source of life not only for humans, but for all forms of life that exists on land. Humans have been using this water for ages for cooking, cleaning, washing, bathing as well as for agricultural and industrial use. As long as machines weren’t invented for pumping out water wastage of water was limited. As people had to labour hard to draw water from wells and ponds, they used water judiciously.
With the invention of advanced pumps and drilling machines. Pumping out water has become an easy task. With the press of a button or a switch, water is readily available for use . In cities and towns, the corporations provide water through out the year, so people do not think twice before using, more than the required amount of water. Washing our hands in running water wastes 27 litres of water which can be done with 1 litre water using a mug. If we turn off the tap while soaping our body we save 50 litres of water. Using a bathtub wastes 110 litres of water. Washing cars uses 150 litres of water , which can be minimised to 50 litres using bucket and mug.
Advancement should be actual, not superficial. The water that we are wasting today belongs to the next generation. Depletion of underground water is a harsh reality , that we are ignoring for the present. Most waterbodies are polluted to such an extent that the water is no longer fit for consumption. This includes seas and oceans, where marine animals and creatures are facing extinction due to chemical and plastic pollution.
The glaciers in the mountains, which are the prime source of water for permanent rivers are also melting fast due to global warming. This means that these rivers would also dry up within a decade or two. It would mean that there would be no source of water, either over the ground or underground.
Trees would perish due to lack of water and agriculture would be impossible. The coming generations would bear the burnt of the deeds of the present generation. Through exploitation of nature, we are paving the way towards a dreadful future for the generations to come.
The children are aware of the adverse effects of the so called development of the present generation. But, being brought up in comfort, they are not equipped for dealing with the impending adverse situations. It is for us to see that our children and living beings at do not suffer due to our irresponsible and callous lifestyle. They would need sweet water , healthy food and fresh air, and bearable atmospheric temperature to survive.
Water is the tastiest thing that God has made. Let us save water and be thankful for the best things in life…. Which are always free.
Save water , every drop counts.
We need a lot of blue to remain green.