Water is essential for all living beings. There can be no life without it.
Water exists in three forms: solid, liquid and vapour.
Though water is maintained by the water cycle, yet there is an acute scarcity of water in many parts of the globe.
Water is one of the most important substances required for the survival of living beings that includes humans, animals, and plant life.
97.4% of total water on Earth is present in oceans. However, water that is available for human consumption is a mere 0.01 % of the total water present on Earth.
Water exists in the solid state as glaciers, icebergs and snow, hail, and frost, and as clouds formed of ice crystals; as liquid in rain and dew and clouds formed of water droplets; in the gaseous state as water vapour, fog, steam, and clouds.
The water cycle involves evaporation of water from oceans, rivers, lakes, etc., condensation of water vapour to form clouds and precipitation in the form of rain and snow.
Water sources can be divided into two categories: surface water and underground water
Surface water can be grouped into rainwater, river and lake water, and sea and ocean water depending upon the 'purity' of the water.
Groundwater is also called an 'aquifer.'
Water availability on the Indian subcontinent is dominated by the seasonal monsoon.
The coastal plains and the Gangetic plains are a rich source of groundwater in our country.
Unnecessary use of water and overdrawing from groundwater should be avoided. Recharge of water to the ground should be increased.
