Scientific aspects
Water is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance that is the main constituent of Earth's streams, lakes, and oceans, and the fluids of most living organisms. Its chemical formula is H2O, meaning that each of its molecules contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms that are connected by covalent bonds. Strictly speaking, water refers to the liquid state of a substance that prevails at standard ambient temperature and pressure; but it often refers also to its solid state (ice) or its gaseous state (steam or water vapor). It also occurs in nature as snow, glaciers, ice packs and icebergs, clouds, fog, dew, aquifers, and atmospheric humidity.
Climatic aspects
Water covers 71% of the Earth's surface. It is vital for all known forms of life. On Earth, 96.5% of the planet's crust water is found in seas and oceans, 1.7% in groundwater, 1.7% in glaciers and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland, a small fraction in other large water bodies, and 0.001% in the air as vapor, clouds (formed of ice and liquid water suspended in air), and precipitation. Only 2.5% of this water is freshwater, and 98.8% of that water is in ice (excepting ice in clouds) and groundwater. Less than 0.3% of all freshwater is in rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere, and an even smaller amount of the Earth's freshwater (0.003%) is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products. A greater quantity of water is found in the earth's interior.
Political and Social aspects
Water scarcity is one of the most pressing humanitarian crises facing the world today. Access to water resources has far-reaching political and social implications, especially in areas where water is scarce. Natural water basins do not comply with man-made political borders, and as a result the allocation of precious water resources becomes a point of negotiation in transnational treaties and agreements. Additionally, the politicial aspect of water is the connection between water and energy production. Water is needed for all types of energy production and energy is needed for the extraction and dissemination of clean water.
Economic aspects
A number of studies and considerable field experiences have shown that the introduction of water treatment technology without consideration of the socio-cultural aspects of the community and without behavioral, motivational, educational and participatory activities within the community is unlikely to be successful or sustainable. Therefore, initiatives in water, hygiene and sanitation must include community participation,
education and behavior modification. A number of systems have been developed and successfully implemented for this purpose. One of the most widely used and successful of these is termed PHAST, which stands for Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation.
Usage of water does not only refer to active water consumption but also includes virtual water, which means the Water which is used to produce things entirely.
Ecological aspects
What are the five most important properties of water?
- Its attraction to other polar molecules
- Its storage of High-specific heat
- Its High heat for Vaporization
- Its low density of ice
- Its High Polarity
To find more about the Composition of Water we analyse Water samples looking at Mineral salts, Copper, Iron and Density.
Water is the most consumed liquid on Earth and habitat for many Species. The Wadden Sea at Cuxhaven and the Wetlands near Kolkata host a diverse collection of plants and other Wild Species.