Wednesday Mini Mag

Water Essential For Life

“Water is vital for all known forms of life, even though it provides no calories or organic nutrients.” Man and animal can survive for long periods without any additional food source but must have water. Many don’t realize that and it’s even easily forgotten by most people until they are without water. With certain areas having low rainfall during the past months, they are suffering from drought. All of a sudden having water supply is just about the most important thing on their minds. A brief review about water seems appropriate. Water covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface mostly seas and oceans with smaller amounts in groundwater, glaciers, vapor and clouds. The world economy depends on water with 70 percent of freshwater used by humans going to agriculture. Fish from water are a major food source in much of the world. Many commodities are shipped by water. Entertainment in many forms like boating and swimming depend on water. Now, agriculturalists in several locales are short of groundwater for crop growth and regrowth. Yet of more urgency for some, there is little or no water for livestock. Some households are deprived water for home use. Wet weather springs have been dry for some time. Waterholes became mud holes have become dry dirt. Creeks are dry, pond’s dry, well’s dry; lake’s lowest in some time. What is an agriculturalist to do? Fortunately, most communities have a dependable water source which continues to flow, sometimes with limitations. A number of rural areas have been blessed with water districts to provide water for both households and livestock. Restrictions are sometimes initiated and crop watering is often brought to a standstill.