Water Is Irreplaceable

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Every language has a word for water; no living thing exists without water. It soothes the

spirit, sustains the body, and its beauty inspires art and music. Employed by cultures around the world in rituals and ceremonies, water bathes us from birth to death. Water is essential to life as we know it. And as it cycles from the air to the land to the sea and back again, water shapes our planet—and nearly every aspect of our lives (AMND).

Its force and abundance are the backdrop of our lives. Salty or fresh, water is everywhere—

falling from the skies, rushing to the sea, pouring over us in the shower, soothing us with

it’s therapeutic properties—cycling in volumes that boggle the mind.

Every single day, even when the sun is shining on you, vast amounts of water are falling

as rain all over Earth. Every single year, more than 40,000 cubic kilometers (nearly 10,000 cubic miles) of water pour from Earth's rivers into the sea. No wonder we treat water as though there were an infinite supply (AMND).

Fresh water makes up only three percent of the water on Earth's surface—and often,

places with the most people have the least water. About two-thirds of Earth's fresh water is ice,

and much of the remainder is locked underground. A mere fraction of a percent of Earth's water supports all life on land (AMND). Yet, we often mistreat that precious fraction. Can we learn to become better stewards of water? Research of water’s impact on history and design, and the water crisis, proves that we don’t have a choice.

History of Water

Since water is absolutely essential to human life, it should not be surprising that it is an

important component of human history. Yet it is surprising how little attention water receives in

historica...

... middle of paper ...

...1. Web.

16 Dec 2013.

Cairn, Julie Hutchins. "Water Treatment." Pollution A to Z. 2004. 17 Dec. 2013. Print.

Rosen, Lee S. “Ten Tips to Make Your Lobby Shine.” Family Advocate. Vol. 32, No. 1 (Summer 2009), pp. ii, 36. American Bar Association.

von Wiesenberger, Arthur. H 2 O: The Guide to Quality Bottled Water. Woodbridge Press, 1988.

Wyler, Grace. "America's Water Problem Is Way Worse Than Everybody Thinks." Business

Insider. N.p., 22 May 2013. Web. 7 Dec. 2013.

Zetland, David. The End of Abundance: Economic Solutions to Water Scarcity. Amsterdam;

Mission Viejo: Aguanomics Press, 2011. Print.

Wyler, Grace. "America's Water Problem Is Way Worse Than Everybody Thinks." Business

Insider. N.p., 22 May 2013. Web. 7 Dec. 2013.

Zetland, David. The End of Abundance: Economic Solutions to Water Scarcity. Amsterdam ;

Mission Viejo: Aguanomics Press, 2011. Print.

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