2. NATURAL SOURCES OF WATER
MAIN SOURCE OF OUR WATER SUPPLY.
WATER IS FOUND IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD, FROM THE DESERT TO THE
RAINFOREST AND TO THE SEA.
BUT AS THE POPULATION GROWS, THERE IS INCREASINNG WORLDWIDE
CONCERN ABOUT ITS AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY.
A LARGE SUPPLY OF WATER DOES NOT GUARANTEEE THAT IT IS SAFE TO BE
USED AS DRIKING WATER.
THE WATER WHICH COMES TO OUR HOMES HAS TO BE TREATED SO THAT IT IS
SAFE FOR DRINKING.
4. RAIN
MAIN SOURCE OF WATER.
WHEN RAIN FALLS, RAINWATER RUSHES INTO STREAMS AND RIVERS AND
EVENTUALLY ENDS ITS JOURNEY IN PONDS, LAKES AND OCEAN.
WATER THAT SEEPS INTO THE GROUND IS CALLED GROUNDWATER.
ABOUT 97% OF THE EARTH’S WATER IS IN THE OCEAN. HOWEVER, SEA WATER IS
TOO SALTY FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
THE MAIN SOURCES OF FRESHWATER SUPPLY ARE RAIN, PONDS, LAKES,
STREAMS, RIVERS AND GROUNDWATER.
IN SOME COUNTRIES, HUMAN OBTAIN WATER FROM GLACIAL ICE AND SNOW.
WE CAN ALSO OBTAIN FRESH WATER FROM SEA BY DESALINATION.
5. NATURAL WATER IS NOT PURE.
WHEN IT FLOWS THROUGH STREAMS, RIVERS
OR ROCKS BENEATH THE GROUND, IT
DISSSOLVES MATERIALS ALMOST EVERYTHING IT
FLOWS OVER.
IT ALSO PICKS UP SMALL PARTICLES OF ROCKS,
CLAY, SAND, PLANTS SUCH AS ALGAE, HUMAN
AND ANIMAL WASTES, AS WELL AS BACTERIA.
6. WATER
USED FOR DRINKING.
USED FOR WASHING NEEDS TO BE CLEAN AND FREE OF DISEASE-CAUSING,
MICRO-ORGANISMS, HARMFUL CHEMICALS, BAD ODOUR AND UNPLEASANT
TASTE.
