INTRODUCTION
Our Earth is surrounded by water. About 71% of Earth’s surface is enclosed with water and the remaining 29% is continents and islands. In the 71% of Earth’s water, about 96.5% is Oceans (which is salt water). Remaining 3.5% is fresh water, which are found in lakes, Glaciers, Polar ice caps.
Water is a major constituent of all living creatures. Water is essential for all living beings to survive on this planet since they need water to grow and reproduce. Water is essential for agriculture, industries, household purposes and other environmental activists.
நீà®°்இன்à®±ு à®…à®®ையாது
உலகெனின்
யாà®°்யாà®°்க்குà®®்
வான்இன்à®±ு à®…à®®ையாது à®’à®´ுக்கு.
English Translation:
World can’t survive without water
and morality can’t exist without rains.
The above lines are from Thirukkural written by Thiruvalluvar more than 2000 years before.
This is 20th kural in the 2nd chapter about “Glory of Rain” of 1st Division “Aram” (meaning Righteousness). Here he says about the importance of rain i.e., water. Without water, no life can sustain.
Water is one of the five Fundamental Elements in the earth. (Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space).
Mahatma Gandhi underwent starvation (without food) for about 21 days by consuming water.
In India, Anna Hazare, 74(by that time), started his hunger strike (fasting) on Aug 16 2011 and ended his 12 days fast on 27 Aug 2011. During this 12 days period he consumed water alone without food.
This shows how water plays a vital role in living beings.
Many experts say, The World War III arises because of water since water has become business now a day. China has constructed more than 87000 dams than any other country in the world. The Three Gorges Dam – Worlds largest dam is in China. This dam is the World’s largest power station since 2012.
In one side, China has more number of dams than any other country in the world on the other hand the South Africa’s Capital city, Cape Town is running out of water. It is in the difficult situation of being the first major city in this era to face the threat of scarcity of drinking water.
In India, the ground water level of water in many cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad is getting decrease day by day.
The Formula of Water is : H2O
Two lightweight Hydrogen atoms attached to one heavier Oxygen atom. Water is tasteless, odourless in room temperature. It is believed that life originated in the aqueous solutions ie., Oceans.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE
An adult human body comprises 55% to 60% of water. Water is present in the form of blood, saliva, juices, cells, tissues. Water is essential for our body. It helps in digestion, removes toxins from our body, regulates body temperature, and transports nutrients inside the body.
pH is an estimation scale to find out how much acid or base the liquid is. The range is from 0 – 14. 7 is being neutral. Below 7 is acidic and greater than 7 is base.
Water with low pH value (less than 6.5) is soft,acidic and corrosive.
Water with pH value greater than 8.5 is hard.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) standard for drinking water falls within a range of 6.5 - 8.5. The EPA warns drinking excess acidic or alkaline water is harmful to health.
The pH measure of pure water is 7 i.e. neutral meaning neither acidic nor base. The pH value of surface water ranges from 6.5 to 8.5 and that of ground water is of 6 to 8.5.
Water does not contain protein, carbs, fiber, fat, calcium, iron and sugar.
The nutrient value is provided by the USDA for 1 serving cup (237mg or 8 fluid ounces):
Tap water:
- Calcium : 7mg
- Magnesium : 2mg
- Sodium : 9mg
- Zinc: 0.02mg
Natural sparkling or Ground water : This is most
nutritious as they comes from underground.
- Calcium : 60mg
- Magnesium : 70mg
Evian Water :
- Calcium : 19mg
- Magnesium : 5mg
Perrier Water :
- Calcium :33mg
- Sodium : 2mg
General Bottle water :
- Calcium: 24mg
- Magnesium: 5mg
- Sodium : 5mg
WATER PURIFIERS
Do you think drinking RO water is good for our health?
RO – Reverse Osmosis is a technique of purifying the solvent with the help of semi permeable membrane and giving pressure in it. This process rinse off all contaminants present in that solvent.
This technique first discovered and used to convert the seawater in to drinking water.
To purify the water RO (Reverse Osmosis), UV (Ultra Violet System), UF (Ultra Filtration) technologies are used. Water purified through any of these methods. This eliminates all chemical components, whether it is good or bad to health. The good Water purifier removes up to 99% of contaminants.
Since, RO works with very tiny pore membrane. This membrane arrests all the molecules, which are larger than the water molecules. Therefore it allows only water molecules to pass through the pores.
RO purification removes all harmful contaminants like disease causing microorganisms and heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, fluoride, chromium. In addition to this, it also removes all the essential minerals present in water like iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium says, WQIA – Water Quality Indian Association.
RO water purifiers, after removing all the contaminants it pushes out more water (rejected water) than the purified water. WQIA says, RO purifies 20% - 30% and 70% - 80% is drained since this water is saline in nature contains higher concentration of chemicals. This water is unfit for reuse. If this is used, it leads to corrosion of the materials or metals.
The maintenance is also costly. The filter cleaned frequently, at least for every 2 months.
The pH level of RO water is around 6.5. RO lowers the pH value of water. It becomes acidic in nature.
POSSIBLE HEALTH PROBLEMS OF RO WATER
The report published by WHO in 1980 says, consumption of low mineral water content or de-mineralized water results in deficiency.
Drinking water which is :
- Deficient in Calcium or Magnesium results in high risk of Cardio Vascular Disease, risk of bone fracture in children, premature birth and low weight at birth.
- Deficient in Magnesium results in neuronal disease, pregnancy disorders, sudden death in infants, some types of cancer.
To avoid all these, one can catch the tap water and make it boil until the bubble appears and consumed after it becomes lukewarm.
Our ancestors used Copper vessels for storing water. It is a natural purifier. It removes all the Bacteria, microorganisms, algae, fungi and molds. Water stored in overnight or at least for 4 hours in copper vessel. Thus, water absorbs certain copper essential for our body from the vessel. The vessel kept clean before storing water in it. The vessel made clean by using Tamarind or lemon or by soaking the vessel in rice soaked water.
Ayurveda states that, drinking copper enriched water in the morning in empty stomach balances all three doshas namely Kapha , Vata, Pitta.
BENEFITS OF WATER
Drinking plenty of water regularly is good for the body. It is necessary for metabolism of the body. It helps in dissolving minerals, vitamins and other nutrients.
- Regulates body temperature (in the form of sweating)
- Improves Digestion
- Flushes out Toxins and other wastes
- Maintains healthy weight (controls Obesity)
- Boosts Metabolism
- Prevents Dehydration
- Lubricates the joints
- Forms saliva (Saliva helps in food digestion)
- Keeps skin health and beauty
- Maintains Blood Pressure
- Prevents Kidney from damage
- Reduces the risk of developing UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)
CONCLUSION
Adult Human body comprises of 60% of water. In Children and babies, the percentage is higher. Since, Water has no calories; it can be a substitute for energy drinks, coke, carbonated drinks and other sugary liquids helping in maintaining good health and body weight.
Water is a Natural resource and is a renewable resource. We get water from rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands. In older days people used to drink water from these sources but now a days this surface or ground water systems are polluted by humans making it toxic, non consumable and making the water as non renewable in that particular area thus by decreasing the water content which leads to scarcity of the water.
So preserve each droplets of water. Close your faucets
properly when not in use, so that the dripping water can be saved. Rainwater
harvested. This helps in increasing the groundwater system.. These are the simple
methods by which, the water can be preserved and saved. It is our responsibility to conserve, save the water and provide it to our future generations.
Water is a Precious Commodity!!! Save it !!! Preserve it!!!
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