water essay definition

Essay On Importance Of Water

Table of Contents

Short Essay On Importance Of Water

Water is one of the most essential and important resources for life on earth. It plays a critical role in supporting all living organisms, including humans, plants, and animals. Without access to clean, safe water, life on earth would not be possible.

For humans, water is necessary for survival as it makes up approximately 60% of the human body. It is also required for a range of activities, including drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing. Additionally, water is essential for agriculture and food production. Irrigation systems, which rely on a constant supply of water, are used to grow crops that feed billions of people around the world.

Water also plays a critical role in maintaining the earth’s ecosystems. It helps regulate the planet’s temperature and supports the growth of vegetation, which in turn provides habitats for countless species of animals. Moreover, water plays a critical role in the water cycle, helping to distribute heat and moisture around the planet.

Unfortunately, access to clean, safe water is a challenge for many people around the world. Approximately 2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water, and millions die each year from water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery. This highlights the importance of ensuring that all people have access to clean water and that efforts are made to protect and conserve this precious resource.

In conclusion, water is an essential and critical resource for life on earth. It is necessary for human survival and plays a vital role in supporting ecosystems and sustaining food production. Ensuring that all people have access to clean, safe water is a global challenge and one that requires sustained efforts to protect and conserve this precious resource.

longEssay On Importance Of Water

Water is one of the most important substances on Earth. It sustains life, from the smallest bacteria to the largest mammals. But how much do we really know about water and its importance? This essay explores why water is so essential to human life and looks at some of the potential risks of not taking proper care of our water resources.

Introduction

It is no secret that water is essential for life. All known forms of life require water to survive. In fact, water makes up about 60% of the human body. Every system in the human body depends on water to function properly.

Water is involved in all aspects of metabolism, including digestion, absorption, and excretion. It also plays a role in temperature regulation and waste removal. In addition, water helps to protect tissues and organs from damage and maintains their structure and function.

Despite its importance, many people do not drink enough water every day. This can lead to dehydration, which can cause a number of health problems. Some of the symptoms of dehydration include fatigue, headache, lightheadedness, and dizziness. Dehydration can also lead to more serious problems such as heat stroke or kidney stones.

It is important to drink plenty of fluids each day, especially during hot weather or when exercising. The best way to stay hydrated is to drink small amounts of water throughout the day rather than large amounts all at once. It is also important to choose beverages that contain electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which help to replace those lost through sweating.

Definition of Water

Water is a clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In chemical terms, water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, with a molecular weight of 18.01528. The boiling point of water is 100 °C (212 °F), and its freezing point is 0 °C (32 °F). Water is in liquid form at standard atmospheric pressure at temperatures between 0°C (32°F) and 100°C (212°F). It has a density of 1 gram per cubic centimeter (1 g/cm3) at 4°C (39°F).

Importance of Water for Our Health and Wellbeing

Water is vital for our health and wellbeing. Our bodies are made up of around 60% water, so it’s no surprise that we need to keep topped up in order to function properly. Water has many roles in the body, including:

– Carrying nutrients and oxygen around the body – Flushing out toxins and waste products – Regulating body temperature – Lubricating joints – Helping with digestion

We need to drink around eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. This may seem like a lot, but it’s easy to get through if you make sure you have a glass with every meal and snack, and carry a bottle of water with you when you’re out and about.

There are many benefits to staying hydrated, including:

– Improved physical performance – Reduced fatigue and increased energy levels – improved mental function and concentration – better skin health – reduced risk of kidney stones and urinary tract infections.

The Role of Water in Human Society

Water is one of the most important substances on Earth. All living things need water to survive. Water is essential for the proper functioning of all cells, tissues, and organs.

The human body is made up of about 60% water. Every system in the body depends on water. For example, water:

– Carries nutrients and oxygen to all cells

– Flushes toxins out of vital organs

– Regulates body temperature

– Lubricates joints

Without water, the human body would not be able to function properly. People can only survive without water for a few days before they become seriously ill and die.

Water is also important for agriculture. Crops need water to grow. In many parts of the world, irrigation systems are used to bring water to fields where it is needed. Irrigation can be done by hand, but it is often done with machines. Farmers must be careful not to use too much water or their crops will suffer from drought (lack of water). Too little water can also damage crops. Farmers have to know when and how much to water their crops in order to get a good harvest.

The Impact of Climate Change on Water Availability

Water availability is one of the key ways in which climate change can impact us. It is estimated that by the end of the century, global average water availability will decrease by 6%. This means that there will be less water available for drinking, irrigation, and industry. In some regions, water availability could decrease by as much as 30%.

There are a number of reasons for this decrease in water availability. One is that as the atmosphere warms, evaporation rates increase. This means that more water is being drawn out of lakes and rivers and into the atmosphere. Additionally, precipitation patterns are changing. While some areas are seeing increases in rainfall, others are experiencing drought conditions. These changes mean that less water is available to recharge groundwater supplies.

The impacts of climate change on water availability are already being felt around the world. In Australia, for example, a prolonged drought has left many farmers struggling to irrigate their crops. In California, declining snowpack levels have led to reduced river flows and increased water shortages. As climate change continues to impact our planet, it is likely that these types of problems will become more common.

How to Conserve Water

Water is one of the most important natural resources on earth. It is essential for all forms of life and plays a vital role in our environment.

There are many ways to conserve water. Some simple things that everyone can do to save water are:

– Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth – Take shorter showers – Don’t let the water run while washing dishes – Fix any leaks around your home – Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk – Water your plants during the cooler hours of the day – Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater for watering plants – Mulch your garden to help retain moisture All these things will help reduce water consumption and protect this valuable resource.

In conclusion, this essay has highlighted the importance of water in our lives and why it is essential for us to conserve and protect it. Water plays a vital role in sustaining life on Earth and we must take action now to ensure that all humans have access to safe drinking water. We should also strive to reduce our personal consumption of water and make efforts to preserve freshwater resources for future generations. Through greater awareness, conservation initiatives, improved infrastructure, and responsible usage practices we can help secure a thriving future environment with abundant supplies of clean water.

Manisha Dubey Jha is a skilled educational content writer with 5 years of experience. Specializing in essays and paragraphs, she’s dedicated to crafting engaging and informative content that enriches learning experiences.

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Biology Article

Water is a precious natural resource. All living things need water for their survival. We cannot imagine life without water. Let it be animals or plants they require water to complete their daily metabolic activities. Plants require water to synthesize their food from the process of photosynthesis.

On average, an individual uses 600 to 700 litres in a day. We all can live without food for days together but cannot even imagine surviving without water, even plants become dry and shed their leaves without water.

Let us learn some more importance to water.

What is Water?

Water is one of the natural resources, which are found in an adequate amount. It is an essential source for the existence of life on the planet earth. It is widely used for various purposes such as drinking, washing, bathing, cleaning, cooking, irrigation, and other industrial and domestic uses.

Sources of Water

There are various sources of water. About 97% of the water on the Earth’s surface is covered with water. The three main sources of water are:

Groundwater – This includes water bodies like Wells and Springs.
Surface water – This includes different water bodies like Reservoirs, Rivers, Streams, Ponds, Lakes and Tanks.

Importance of Water

We all need water for different daily activities including:

Domestic Purposes include bathing, cleaning, cooking, drinking, and washing.
Agricultural applications include irrigation, farming, gardening, and frost control.
Other Industrial Applications.

Apart from this, we drink water to:

Stay hydrated
Lubricate Joints
Regulate the body’s temperature
Transport nutrients and other waste in the body.
Balance the loss of water from the digestive tract and body tissues.

Water Cycle

Water never stops moving. The water cycle mainly describes the process of the continuous movement of water from the surface of the earth and it is usually carried out in four different stages. The entire cycle is controlled by the sun and is also known as the hydrological cycle

Evaporation : In this stage, the heat from the sun heats up the water from oceans and other water bodies and evaporates the water in the form of vapours which rises up and form clouds.

Condensation : The water vapour’s in the clouds cools down.

Precipitation : The cooled water vapours in the clouds form droplets and released in the form of Precipitation back to the earth surface in the form of rain or snow.

Collection : The rainwater runs off to the ground and gets collected into the river, ponds, well, and back to the sea.

As mentioned above, about 97% of the water on the Earth’s surface is covered with water. Only 2 to 3% is available and safe for drinking. Rest of the water is saltwater and other two-thirds of the Earth’s freshwater is frozen in glaciers and these water resources are mostly inaccessible for human use.

This is the reason, we all need to reduce wasting this natural resource and conserve water for future requirements.

Also, read about How Can We Conserve Water?

Stay tuned with BYJU’S to learn more in detail about Water, Conservation of Water and other related topics @ BYJU’S Biology .

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Essay on Water Is Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on Water Is Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Water Is Life

Importance of water.

Water is a vital resource for all living beings. It is essential for our survival. Without water, life on earth would not exist.

Role in Our Body

Water makes up about 70% of our body. It helps in digestion, circulation, and maintaining body temperature.

Water in Nature

Water forms rivers, oceans, and rains that nourish the earth. It is crucial for the growth of plants and animals.

Conservation

Water is a limited resource. We must conserve it to ensure a healthy future for our planet.

Also check:

10 Lines on Water Is Life
Paragraph on Water Is Life
Speech on Water Is Life

250 Words Essay on Water Is Life

Introduction.

Water, a simple molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, is the lifeblood of our planet. It is the most abundant and essential resource, without which life as we know it would not exist.

The Essence of Life

Water is the fundamental building block of life. It is involved in every bodily function, from digestion and circulation to temperature regulation and waste removal. The human body is approximately 60% water, reflecting its importance in maintaining life and health.

Water and the Environment

Water’s role extends beyond the individual organism. It is integral to maintaining Earth’s delicate ecosystems. Water cycles through our environment, from the atmosphere to the earth and back again, supporting plant and animal life, shaping landscapes, and influencing climate patterns.

The Social and Economic Impact of Water

Water also plays a significant role in social and economic structures. It is vital for agriculture, industry, and energy production. Access to clean water is a determinant of societal health and prosperity. Yet, water scarcity, pollution, and mismanagement pose major challenges, with profound implications for human rights, social equity, and global stability.

In conclusion, water is life. It is the essence of biological function, the driver of ecological systems, and the underpinning of social and economic structures. As we face a future of increasing water scarcity and pollution, understanding and respecting the critical role of water is more important than ever. We must strive to conserve and protect this invaluable resource, for it is not just water, but life itself.

500 Words Essay on Water Is Life

The essence of life: water.

Water, the most vital natural resource, is the lifeblood of every living organism on Earth. From microscopic organisms to the largest mammals, all life forms depend on water for survival. This universal solvent, often referred to as the “elixir of life,” performs essential roles in biological processes, climatic regulation, and economic development.

Water: The Biological Imperative

Water is crucial to the existence and sustenance of life on Earth. It comprises about 60-70% of a human body, acting as a medium for biochemical reactions, a transporter of nutrients and waste, and a temperature regulator. It is the primary component of cells, tissues, and organs, and without it, life as we know it would cease to exist.

In the plant kingdom, water is instrumental for photosynthesis, the process by which plants produce food. It also facilitates the transportation of nutrients from the roots to other parts of the plant. Hence, the absence of water would disrupt the food chain, leading to catastrophic effects on all life forms.

Water and Climate

Water plays a significant role in regulating Earth’s climate. The hydrological cycle, involving evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff, is a key driver of weather patterns. Oceans, which hold about 97% of Earth’s water, absorb heat from the sun and distribute it around the globe through ocean currents, thereby moderating global temperatures.

Furthermore, water in the form of ice at the poles and high altitudes reflects sunlight back into space, helping to stabilize Earth’s temperature. The melting of this ice due to global warming is a cause for concern as it could lead to a rise in sea levels and drastic changes in climate.

Economic Importance of Water

Water is indispensable for economic development. It is essential for agriculture, which is the primary source of livelihood for a large portion of the global population. Industries such as power generation, manufacturing, and tourism also rely heavily on water. Moreover, waterways serve as important routes for trade and transportation, contributing significantly to the global economy.

Water Scarcity and Conservation

Despite its abundance, water scarcity is a pressing issue in many parts of the world due to factors like overpopulation, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. This underscores the need for efficient water management and conservation.

Water conservation can be achieved through strategies like rainwater harvesting, recycling and reusing wastewater, and adopting water-efficient technologies. It is also crucial to create awareness about the importance of water and the need for its conservation.

In conclusion, water is not just a life-sustaining resource but the very essence of life. It is a critical component of biological processes, a key climate regulator, and an economic catalyst. However, the growing water scarcity necessitates urgent action to conserve and manage this invaluable resource. As we recognize water’s integral role in our lives, it becomes our collective responsibility to ensure its availability for future generations. After all, water is life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Water and sustainable development

Water and the green economy
Water cooperation
Water quality
Water scarcity
FOCUS REGIONS
Asia and the Pacific
Latin America and the Caribbean
RESOURCES FOR
Kids and Youth
UN e-RESOURCES
UN Publications
UN Photobanks
UN Video Library
UN Websites

Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself. It is vital for reducing the global burden of disease and improving the health, welfare and productivity of populations. It is central to the production and preservation of a host of benefits and services for people. Water is also at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as the crucial link between the climate system, human society and the environment.

Water is a finite and irreplaceable resource that is fundamental to human well-being. It is only renewable if well managed. Today, more than 1.7 billion people live in river basins where depletion through use exceeds natural recharge, a trend that will see two-thirds of the world’s population living in water-stressed countries by 2025. Water can pose a serious challenge to sustainable development but managed efficiently and equitably, water can play a key enabling role in strengthening the resilience of social, economic and environmental systems in the light of rapid and unpredictable changes.

What is "sustainable development"?

Sustainable development was explicitly popularized and contextualized by the Brundtland Commission in the document "Our Common Future" where it was defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (UN, 1987). The Brundtland Commission focused on three pillars of human well being: economic, socio-political and ecological/environmental conditions. The basic concept endorses putting in place strong measures to spur economic and social development, particularly for people in developing countries, while ensuring that environmental integrity is sustained for future generations.

Water, sustainable development, the MDGs and the SDGs

The millennium development goals (mdgs).

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), agreed in 2000, aim to halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation between 1990 and 2015.

A total of 748 million people still do not have access to an improved drinking water source and existing indicators do not address the safety and reliability of water supplies. To reach the requirements of the right to access to safe drinking water requires real improvements for several billions of people.

In July 2010, the General Assembly adopted a resolution, which “recognized the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights”. ( A/RES/64/292 ).

The MDG target for sanitation is an even more pressing challenge, with 2.5 billion people currently lacking access to improved sanitation and over one billion still practicing open defecation. At current rates of progress, the sanitation target will be missed by over half a billion people.

These global aggregates also mask large disparities between nations and regions, rich and poor, between rural and urban populations, as well as between disadvantaged groups and the general population.

There is currently no global target to improve hygiene , despite this being one of the single most cost-effective public health interventions.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

The Rio+20 Conference in 2012 was an opportunity to reflect on progress towards sustainable development over the previous 20 years. One of its main outcomes was an agreement to launch a process to develop a set of Sustainable Development Goals, which build on the Millennium Development Goals and converge with the post-2015 development agenda.

2015 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Water and Sustainable Development: From Vision to Action. 15-17 January 2015

The Zaragoza Conference focused on the tools for implementation stated in the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro from 20 to 22 June 2012, entitled "The future we want" , which includes finance, technology and capacity building, adding the institutional and policy dimensions.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Water

As the time limit for the MDGs draws to a close in 2015, the global community is taking stock of how it can move towards a sustainable future. The MDG framework did not address the full water and development agenda, nor fully recognize its synergies with other areas and concerns. Emphasis on ‘Sustainability’ was not included and human rights and inequalities were also largely ignored in the MDG framework. Subsequently, member states have agreed that human rights, equality and sustainability should form the core of the development agenda and be recognized as critical for true development.

UN-Water’s overarching goal is “Securing Sustainable Water for All”. The water goal and targets directly address the development aims of societies, promote human dignity and ensure achievements are sustainable over the long term leading to the following development outcomes, amongst others:

Sustainable development, water, and…

Agriculture is by far the thirstiest consumer of water globally, accounting for 70% of water withdrawals worldwide, although this figure varies considerably across countries. Rainfed agriculture is the predominant agricultural production system around the world, and its current productivity is, on average, little more than half the potential obtainable under optimal agricultural management. By 2050, world agriculture will need to produce 60% more food globally, and 100% more in developing countries.

Industry and energy together account for 20% of water demand. More-developed countries have a much larger proportion of freshwater withdrawals for industry than less-developed countries, where agriculture dominates. Balancing the requirements of sustainability against the conventional view of industrial mass production creates a number of conundrums for industry. One of the biggest is globalization and how to spread the benefits of industrialization worldwide and without unsustainable impacts on water and other natural resources.

Domestic sector accounts for 10% of total water use. And yet, worldwide, an estimated 748 million people remain without access to an improved source of water and 2.5 billion remain without access to improved sanitation.

Cities . More than half the world already lives in urban areas and by 2050, it is expected that more than two-thirds of the global population of 9 billion will be living in cities. Furthermore, most of this growth will happen in developing countries, which have limited capacity to deal with this rapid change, and the growth will also lead to increase in the number of people living in slums, which often have very poor living conditions, including inadequate water and sanitation facilities. Therefore, the development of water resources for economic growth, social equity and environmental sustainability will be closely linked with the sustainable development of cities.

Ecosystems . Perhaps the most important challenge to sustainable development to have arisen in the last decades is the unfolding global ecological crisis that is becoming a barrier to further human development. From an ecological perspective, the sustainable development efforts have not been successful. Global environmental degradation has reached a critical level with major ecosystems approaching thresholds that could trigger massive collapse. The growing understanding of global planetary boundaries, which must be respected to protect Earth’s life support systems, needs to be the very basis of the future sustainable development framework.

Trend for weight of plastic packaging generation y Trend for waste streams in US municipal waste output

Did you know?

Over 1.7 billion people are currently living in river basins where water use exceeds recharge, leading to the desiccation of rivers, depletion of groundwater and the degradation of ecosystems and the services they provide.
As countries develop and populations grow, global water demand (in terms of withdrawals) is projected to increase by 55% by 2050 . Already by 2025, two thirds of the world’s population could be living in water-stressed countries if current consumption patterns continue.
The economic loss from the inadequate delivery of water and sanitation was estimated to amount to 1.5 % of gross domestic product of the countries included in a WHO study on meeting the MDGs.
According to some estimates, over 80% of wastewater is discharged without treatment.
Water-related disasters are the most economically and socially destructive of all natural disasters. Since the original Rio Earth Summit in 1992 floods, droughts and storms have affected 4.2 billion people (95% of all people affected by disasters) and caused USD 1.3 trillion of damage (63% of all damage).

To learn more

Prototype Global Sustainable Development Report

>> Access most recent publications on water and sanitation in the post-2015 agenda from the UN Documentation on Water and Sanitation

United Nations, 2012. A/RES/66/288. The Future We Want – Outcome Document of the Rio+20 Conference.
United Nations, 1987. Our Common Future, Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development.
UNDESA, 2012. Sustainable Development for the 21st Century Back to our Common Future (2012) UNDESA.
UNESCO, 2009. UN World Water Development Report 3. Paris.
UNISDR, 2012. Impacts of Disasters since the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-HABITAT, GRID-Arendal, 2010. Sick Water? The central role of wastewater management in sustainable development. A Rapid Response Assessment.
United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, 2013.
UN-Water, 2014. A Post-2015 Global Goal for Water: Synthesis of key findings and recommendations from UN-Water.
UN-Water, 2008. Sharing benefits, sharing responsibilities.
WHO, 2012. Global costs and benefits of drinking-water supply and sanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and universal coverage.
WHO/HSE/WSH/12.01. Geneva.
WHO/UNICEF, 2014. Progress on sanitation and drinking-water - 2014 Update. World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF.
WWAP, 2014. 5th United Nations World Water Development Report 2014: Water and Energy. Paris, UNESCO.

"Environmental, economic and social indicators tell us that our current model of progress is unsustainable. Ours is a world of looming challenges and increasingly limited resources. Sustainable development offers the best chance to adjust our course." Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General

"The UN is working with governments, civil society and other partners to shape an ambitious sustainable development framework to meet the needs of both people and planet, providing economic transformation and opportunity to lift people out of poverty, advancing social justice and protecting the environment." The Future We Want: Outcome document adopted at Rio+20

"Water is at the core of sustainable development as it is closely linked to a number of key global challenges." The Future We Want: Outcome document adopted at Rio+20

>> UN-Water Stakeholder Dialogue at World Water Week 2013: Triggering Action on Water through the Post 2015 Agenda UNW-DPAC, UNW-DPC, WWAP. September 2013 Duration: 3h23min

Video record of session 'Triggering Action on Water through the Post-2015 Agenda' at World Water Week, 1 September 2013. Participants in this seminar presented and discussed the most recent proposals for a Water Sustainable Development Goal. There are different proposals as well as for targets and indicators covering both access to basic water and sanitation services, water resources management and pollution and wastewater management. But will these trigger action in the same way as the Millennium Development Goal target on water has done?

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Water Is Life Essay

Essay on Water Is Life - We must comprehend the value of water in our life and the need to preserve it. There are numerous easy ways to prevent water waste, including taking shorter showers, watering plants with RO waste, cleaning cars with a wet cloth rather than a hose, etc. Here are 100, 200 and 500 word essay on “Water Is Life”

All life forms on earth require water in some capacity in order to function. It is safe to claim that the existence of water makes Earth the only planet capable of supporting life. One of our most important resources on earth is water. Water is essential to life, and we cannot exist without it. Not just humans, all forms of life on Earth consumes water in some form or other, as water is essential for organisms to survive. Here are some sample essays on “Water Is Life”

100 Words Essay On Water Is Life

Life is water. Water is a necessity for all life on Earth. Animals need water to quench their thirst, plants need water to draw nutrients from the soil and keep nourished, and people need water for a variety of activities like drinking, cooking, cleaning, and washing, to mention a few.

Numerous species live in water as well. Agriculture uses a significant portion of the water on Earth. It is primarily used to irrigate farms to maintain soil fertility and provide sufficient water for the crops. It is also used for raising animals. There is a lot of water in our world. As a result, all the needs mentioned earlier have been met for centuries.

200 Words Essay On Water Is Life

On Earth, there is an abundance of water. Both above and below the surface of the Earth, it exists. Rivers, ponds, seas, and oceans are just a few of the water bodies found on the surface of the Earth. Due to the sun's intense heat, the surface water evaporates. It moves through the atmosphere in the form of clouds that eventually break and fall as rain on the surface of the Earth. As a result, the water cycle, a constant natural process, replenishes the water that evaporates. This keeps the ecosystem in good shape and makes it worthwhile to live on our planet.

Usage Of Water

Agriculture, business, manufacturing, and families all require water. The quantity of water used in each sector will vary depending on the region of the world you reside. Water use significantly greatly between nations as well. Since it is frequently employed throughout some stages of the production process, water is also used in industry and manufacturing. Water is used to transport, process, chill, and dilute items.

Water can be used in large quantities during resource extraction or mining to remove minerals or other materials from the earth. Water is used in power plants to cool down hot machinery. It offers a venue for leisure activities like swimming, rowing, and water skiing. Water is also used to put out fires in case of emergencies.

500 Words Essay On Water Is Life

Water is necessary for our survival as well as for a healthy and happy life. It's time for everyone to wake up and understand how important water conservation is. In other words, the human species couldn't survive in a world without water. All plants and animals fall under this same category. In fact, without water, the entire planet will suffer. To gather rainwater, we must also employ the rainwater harvesting technique. In this way, we can conserve water.

Uses Of Water By Humans, Plants And Animals

Water has many purposes for humans.

Water consumption is essential for the survival of all living things. So, drinking water is one of its primary functions. Cooking also involves the usage of water.

Without using water, it is impossible to clean a home, workplace, car, piece of machinery, or anything else for that matter. Every cleaning task calls for water. Additionally, water is needed for washing dishes, laundry, and other items.

Agriculture uses a significant portion of the water on Earth. It is primarily used to irrigate farms in order to maintain soil fertility and provide sufficient water for the crops. It is also used for raising animals. Water is used in industries for several reasons. Water is used for various product manufacturing processes. It is utilised in the processing, manufacturing, and transporting many different items. The pulp and paper industry and the engineering sector are examples of businesses requiring a lot of water.

The Biological Need For Water

By serving as a solvent, water is an essential component of the majority of biological activities. Food is absorbed into our bodies as solutions using water as the solvent. Additionally, a lot of waste materials are eliminated as solutions through sweat and urine. Our body temperature is regulated by water. We consume a lot of water when it's hot outside. This keeps our body temperature constant. Additionally, sweat contains water that evaporates from our body's surface.

My Experience

I was on a beach vacation with my family, and we spent most of our days swimming in the ocean and playing in the waves. One day, we decided to rent a boat and snorkelling in a nearby coral reef. The water was crystal clear, and the colours of the fish and coral were so vibrant and beautiful. After snorkelling, we stopped at a small beachside restaurant for lunch, where we enjoyed fresh seafood and cold drinks while watching the waves roll in. It was a memorable day, and I will always cherish the time I spent in the water on that trip. This trip reminded me that one of my best memories was only possible because water exists. It showed me the life that water holds below land, like coral reefs and also how beautiful animals exist, like turtles.

So, to summarise, water is necessary for plants, humans and animals. Water makes Earth the only planet capable of supporting life. One of the most important resources we have on the earth is this all-purpose solvent. Water is essential to life, and we cannot exist without it. After all, it covers about 70% of the planet.

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What Is the Water Cycle?

Water can be found all over Earth in the ocean, on land and in the atmosphere. The water cycle is the path that all water follows as it moves around our planet.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Data source: NASA's Earth Observatory

On Earth, you can find water in all three states of matter: solid , liquid and gas . Liquid water is found in Earth’s oceans, rivers, lakes, streams—and even in the soil and underground. Solid ice is found in glaciers , snow, and at the North and South Poles . Water vapor—a gas—is found in Earth’s atmosphere.

How does water travel from a glacier to the ocean to a cloud? That’s where the water cycle comes in.

The Water Cycle

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The Sun’s heat causes glaciers and snow to melt into liquid water. This water goes into oceans, lakes and streams. Water from melting snow and ice also goes into the soil. There, it supplies water for plants and the groundwater that we drink.

Snow falling on a glacier during winter months usually replaces any water that melts away in the summer. However, due to Earth’s overall warming , most glaciers today are losing more ice than they regain, causing them to shrink over time.

How does water get into the atmosphere? There are two main ways this happens:

Heat from the Sun causes water to evaporate from oceans, lakes and streams. Evaporation occurs when liquid water on Earth’s surface turns into water vapor in our atmosphere.
Water from plants and trees also enters the atmosphere. This is called transpiration .

Warm water vapor rises up through Earth’s atmosphere. As the water vapor rises higher and higher, the cool air of the atmosphere causes the water vapor to turn back into liquid water, creating clouds. This process is called condensation .

When a cloud becomes full of liquid water, it falls from the sky as rain or snow—also known as precipitation . Rain and snow then fill lakes and streams, and the process starts all over again.

Clouds, like these over the savannah in Nairobi, Kenya, form when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses back into liquid water. Credit: Department of State

Why Do We Care About the Water Cycle?

We care about the water cycle because water is necessary for all living things. NASA satellites orbiting Earth right now are helping us to understand what is happening with water on our planet.

an illustration of a green plant sprout growing out of the soil

Water in the Soil

Humans need water to drink, and to water the plants that grow our food. NASA has a satellite called SMAP —short for Soil Moisture Active Passive —that measures how much water is in the top 2 inches (5 cm) of Earth’s soil . This can help us understand the relationship between water in the soil and severe weather conditions, such as droughts.

an illustration of water vapor droplets floating in the atmosphere

Water in the Atmosphere

NASA’s CloudSat mission studies water in our atmosphere in the form of clouds. CloudSat gathers information about clouds and how they play a role in Earth’s climate. Also, the international satellite called the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) observes when, where and how much it rains and snows on Earth.

an illustration of a dolphin jumping out of ocean waves

Water in the Oceans

As Earth’s climate becomes warmer, land ice at the North and South Poles starts melting. The water then flows into the ocean, causing sea level to rise. NASA’s Jason-3 mission—short for Joint Altimetry Satellite Oceanography Network-3 —orbits Earth collecting information about sea level and ocean temperature. This helps track how the ocean responds to Earth’s changing climate.

NASA is also tracking how Earth’s water moves all around our planet. This is the work of the GRACE-FO —or Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment-Follow On —mission. It tracks the movement of water from one month to the next, and can even measure changes in deep groundwater hundreds of feet below Earth’s surface.

NASA’s Aqua satellite also collects a large amount of information about Earth’s water cycle, including water in the oceans, clouds, sea ice, land ice and snow cover.

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Water Pollution Essay

Water Pollution and How it Harms the Environment

Global pollution is a problem. Pollution can spread to remote areas where no one lives, despite the fact that urban areas are typically more polluted than the countryside. Air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution are the three main categories of pollution. Some contaminated water has a terrible smell, a muddy appearance, and floating trash. Some contaminated water appears clean, but it contains dangerous substances that you can't see or smell.

Together, developed and developing nations must fight to conserve the environment for present and future generations. Today, we dig deep into the subject of Water Pollution. This article can be an introduction to water pollution for kids as we will read many things such as the causes of water pollution further in the article.

What is Water Pollution?

Water contamination occurs when pollutants pollute water sources and make the water unfit for use in drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities. Chemicals, garbage, bacteria, and parasites are examples of pollutants. Water is eventually damaged by all types of pollution. Lakes and oceans become contaminated by air pollution. Land contamination may contaminate an underground stream, a river, and ultimately the ocean. As a result, trash thrown on an empty lot can eventually contaminate a water source.

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Water Pollution

The water cycle, called the hydrological cycle, involves the following steps:

Evaporation- Because of the sun's heat, the water bodies such as oceans, lakes, seas etc., get heated up, and water evaporates in the air, forming water vapours.

Transpiration- Like evaporation, the plants and trees also lose water from them which goes to the atmosphere. This process is called transpiration.

Condensation- As the water evaporates, it starts to become cool because of the cold atmosphere in the air and because of this cooling down of water leads to the formation of clouds.

Precipitation- Because of the high movements of the wings, the clouds start to collide and then fall back to the earth’s surface in the form of rain. Sometimes they also fall back in the form of snow, hail, sleet etc., depending upon the temperature.

Runoff or Infiltration- After precipitation, the water either flows to the water bodies called runoff or is absorbed into the soil, called infiltration.

Causes of Water Pollution

There are many reasons for water pollution. Some of the reasons are directly affected by water pollution and some indirectly. Many factories and industries are dumping contaminated water, chemicals, and heavy metals into major waterways as a result of direct water pollution.

One more reason for water pollution is the use of modern techniques in farms. Farmers apply nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium in the form of chemical fertilizers, manure, and sludge. It causes farms to discharge large quantities of agrochemicals, organic matter, and saline drainage into water bodies. It indirectly affects water pollution.

Pollutants can be of various types such as organic, inorganic, radioactive etc. Water pollutants are discharged either from one point from pipes, channels etc., which are called point sources or from various other sources. They can be agricultural areas, industries etc., called dispersed sources.

Some of the major forms of water pollutants are as follows:

Sewage- Domestic sewage from homes contains various forms of pathogens that threaten the human body. Sewage treatment reduces the risk of pathogens, but this risk is not eliminated.

Domestic sewage majorly contains nitrates and phosphates, and excess of these substances allows the algae to grow on the surface of water bodies. Due to this, the clean water bodies become nutrient-rich water body and then slowly, the oxygen level of water bodies reduces. This is called eutrophication or cultural eutrophication (if this step rapidly takes place by the activities of humans). This leads to the early death of water bodies.

Toxins- The industrial or factory wastes that are not disposed of properly and contain chemicals such as mercury and lead are disposed of in the water bodies making the bodies toxic, radioactive, explosive and cancerous.

Sediments- Sediments are the result of soil erosion that is formed in the water bodies. These sediments imbalances the water bodies ecologically. They also interfere in the reproductive cycle of various aquatic animals living in the water.

Thermal pollution- Water bodies get polluted because of heat, and excess heat reduces the oxygen level of the water bodies. Some of the species of fish cannot live in such water bodies with very low oxygen levels. The disposal of cold waters from the power plants leads to increased thermal pollution in the water bodies.

Petroleum oil pollution- The runoff of oil into the water bodies, either accidentally as happened in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, or intentionally, leads to an increase in water pollution.

As water is an important element of human health, polluted water directly affects the human body. Water pollution causes various diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, cancer, etc. Water pollution damages the plants and aquatic animals present in the river by reducing the oxygen content from the water. Polluted water washes the essential nutrients which plants need out of the soil and also leaves large amounts of aluminium in the soil, which can be harmful to plants.

Wastewater and sewage are a by-product of daily life and thus produced by each household through various activities like using soap, toilets, and detergents. Such sewage contains chemicals and bacteria which are harmful to human life and environmental health. Water pollution also leads to an imbalance in our ecosystem. Lastly, it also affects the food chain as the toxins in the water bodies are consumed by aquatic animals like fish, crabs etc., and then humans consume those animals forming turmoil.

Sometimes our tradition also becomes a cause for water pollution. Some people throw the statues of deities, flowers, pots, and ashes in rivers.

There are various standards to define water quality standards. Water meant for swimming may not be clean enough for drinking, or water meant for bathing may not be good for cooking. Therefore, there are different water standards for defined:

Stream standards- Standards that define streams, lakes, oceans or seas based on their maximum use.

Effluent standards- Define the specific standards for the level of contaminants or effluents allowed during the final discharge of those into the water bodies.

Drinking water standards- Define the level of contamination allowed in water that will be supplied for drinking or cooking in the domestic areas.

Different countries regulate their water quality standards through different acts and amendments.

While many of the solutions for water pollution need to be applied on a broader macro-level for that individual, companies, and communities can have a significant and responsible impact on the water quality. Companies, factories have to dispose of leftover chemicals and containers properly as per the product instructions. Farmers also have to reduce the use of nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers, pesticides, and contamination of groundwater.

The Swachh Bharat Mission of the government had led to reduced groundwater contamination. Under the Namami Ganga program, the government has initiated several major projects to clean Ganga. Along with all these steps, conservation of water is the very basic and important step towards water conservation and should be followed globally, treatment of sewage before their disposal in the water bodies and using environment-friendly products that do not form toxins when dissolved in water. These are some small steps that have to be taken into consideration by every human being.

As we all know, “Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.” We have to save water. We must keep the water clean. If everyone will follow their responsibility against water to protect it from getting polluted then it will be easy to get clean and healthy drinking water. Clean water is a must for us and our kids' present, future, and healthy environment.

We cannot just live with contaminated waters filled with toxins and no oxygen. We cannot see our wildlife being destroyed and therefore, immediate steps have to be taken by groups of people to first clean the already contaminated water bodies and then keep a check on all the surrounding water bodies. Small steps by every individual can make a huge difference in controlling water pollution.

Water Pollution Prevention

Conserve Water

Our first priority should be to conserve water. Water wasting could be a big problem for the entire world, but we are just now becoming aware of it.

Sewage Treatment

Cleaning up waste materials before disposing of them in waterways reduces pollution on a large scale. By lowering its dangerous elements, this wastewater will be used in other sectors or in agriculture.

Usage of Eco-Friendly Materials

We will reduce the amount of pollution produced by choosing soluble products that do not alter to become pollutants.

Water contamination is the discharge of pollutants into the water body, where they dissolve, are suspended, are deposited on the bottom, and collect to the point where they hinder the aquatic ecosystem's ability to function. Water contamination is brought on by toxic compounds that easily dissolve and combine with it and come from factories, municipalities, and farms.

Healthy ecosystems depend on a complex network of organisms, including animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi, all of which interact with one another either directly or indirectly. In this article, we read about water pollution, its causes and prevention. With this, we have come to the end of our article, in case of any other doubts, feel free to ask in the comments.

FAQs on Water Pollution Essay

1. What are the effects of water pollution?

Water pollution has a great impact on human health. Water pollution kills. It's been recorded that in 2015 nearly 1.8 million people died because of water pollution. People with low income are exposed to contaminated water coming out from the industries. Presence of disease causing pathogens in drinking water are the major cause of illness which includes cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Water pollution not only affects human health but also our environment by causing algal bloom in a lake or marine environment. Water pollution also causes eutrophication which suffocates plants and animals and thus causes dead zones. Chemicals and heavy metals from industrial and municipal wastewater contaminate waterways and harm aquatic life.

2. What are the causes of Water pollution?

Water being a universal solvent is vulnerable to pollution as it dissolves more substances than any other liquid on earth. Therefore, water is easily polluted. Toxic substances from farms, towns, and factories readily dissolve into water and mix with it, resulting in water pollution. Agricultural pollution is one of the major causes of contamination in rivers and streams. The use of excessive fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms and livestock operations lets the rain wash the nutrients and pathogens—such as bacteria and viruses—into our waterways. The other major cause of water pollution is used water, termed as wastewater which comes from our sinks, showers, toilets and from commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities. It's been reported that the world's 80% wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated or reused. Oil spills and radioactive waste also cause water pollution to a great extent.

3. How to prevent water pollution?

It is important to keep our water bodies clean so we can take the following preventive measures to prevent from water pollution:

Chemicals like bleach, paint, paint thinner, ammonia, and many chemicals are becoming a serious problem. Dumping toxic chemicals down the drain or flushing them down the toilet can cause water pollution. Thus, proper disposal is important. Also, household chemicals need to be recycled.

Avoid buying products that contain persistent and dangerous chemicals. Buying non-toxic cleaners and biodegradable cleaners and pesticides cut down on water pollution.

Prevent from pouring fats or greasy substances down the drain as it might clog the drain resulting in the dumping of waste into yards or basement which can contaminate the local water bodies.

4. What is the role of medical institutions in polluting the water?

Pharmaceutical pollution affects aquatic life and thus there is a need to take preventive measures. Consumers are responsible for winding up pharmaceutical and personal care products in lakes, rivers, and streams. There's a lot of unused and expired medication that can potentially get into the water if not disposed of properly.

5. What are the major kinds of pollution?

The three main types of pollution are air pollution, water pollution or soil pollution. Some artificial pollution is also there, such as noise pollution. Factors leading to such pollution include:

Air Pollution: Industrial emissions, fires, traffic and transportation, burning of chemical waste, etc.

Water Pollution: No proper sewage disposal, pesticides in farms leaking into water bodies, industrial waste dumped into water bodies, etc.

Soil Pollution: Oil spills, acid rains, irresponsible disposal of trash, chemical waste, etc.

Noise Pollution: Honking of horns, construction activities, loud parties, etc.

Water Conservation Essay

500+ words essay on water conservation.

Water makes up 70% of the earth as well as the human body. There are millions of marine species present in today’s world that reside in water. Similarly, humankind also depends on water. All the major industries require water in some form or the other. However, this precious resource is depleting day by day. The majority of the reasons behind it are man-made only. Thus, the need for water conservation is more than ever now. Through this water conservation essay, you will realize how important it is to conserve water and how scarce it has become.

Water Scarcity- A Dangerous Issue

Out of all the water available, only three per cent is freshwater. Therefore, it is essential to use this water wisely and carefully. However, we have been doing the opposite of this till now.

Every day, we keep exploiting water for a variety of purposes. In addition to that, we also keep polluting it day in and day out. The effluents from industries and sewage discharges are dispersed into our water bodies directly.

Moreover, there are little or no facilities left for storing rainwater. Thus, floods have become a common phenomenon. Similarly, there is careless use of fertile soil from riverbeds. It results in flooding as well.

Therefore, you see how humans play a big role in water scarcity. Living in concrete jungles have anyway diminished the green cover. On top of that, we keep on cutting down forests that are a great source of conserving water.

Nowadays, a lot of countries even lack access to clean water. Therefore, water scarcity is a real thing. We must deal with it right away to change the world for our future generations. Water conservation essay will teach you how.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Water Conservation Essay – Conserving Water

Life without water is not possible. We need it for many things including cleaning, cooking, using the washroom, and more. Moreover, we need clean water to lead a healthy life.

We can take many steps to conserve water on a national level as well as an individual level. Firstly, our governments must implement efficient strategies to conserve water. The scientific community must work on advanced agricultural reforms to save water.

Similarly, proper planning of cities and promotion of water conservation through advertisements must be done. On an individual level, we can start by opting for buckets instead of showers or tubs.

Also, we must not use too much electricity. We must start planting more trees and plants. Rainwater harvesting must be made compulsory so we can benefit from the rain as well.

Further, we can also save water by turning off the tap when we brush our teeth or wash our utensils. Use a washing machine when it is fully loaded. Do not waste the water when you wash vegetables or fruit, instead, use it to water plants.

All in all, we must identify water scarcity as a real issue as it is very dangerous. Further, after identifying it, we must make sure to take steps to conserve it. There are many things that we can do on a national level as well as an individual level. So, we must come together now and conserve water.

FAQ of Water Conservation Essay

Question 1: Why has water become scarce?

Answer 1: Water has become scarce due to a lot of reasons most of which are human-made. We exploit water on a daily basis. Industries keep discharging their waste directly into water bodies. Further, sewage keeps polluting the water as well.

Question 2: How can we conserve water?

Answer 2: The government must plan cities properly so our water bodies stay clean. Similarly, water conservation must be promoted through advertisements. On an individual level, we can start by fixing all our leaky taps. Further, we must avoid showers and use buckets instead to save more water.

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What is a Lake? 5 Features that Define a Lake

T he Earth is a magnificent ball of incredible, intriguing, and interesting masses of land and water wonders. From mountains to seas , oceans , rainforests , gulfs, and others, more terms belong to different types of bodies of water. One of the most common yet undeniably breathtaking freshwater habitats in the world is the lake. For many, lakes might seem like a typical fresh body of water , the same as rivers and streams. Yet, they are marvelous in their own ways and have features and characteristics that are pretty different and unique compared to other bodies of water. Many people may be wondering what attributes define a lake, but to figure that out, we must first break down what a lake is. This article will explore all the unique hallmarks that make a lake stand out from other marine habitats and what animals might be residing in such freshwater ecosystems.

What is a Lake?

Lakes are bodies of water surrounded by masses of land. Unlike rivers that flow from a water source called a headwater and end up in seas, lakes are standing or slow-moving and do not have fast-moving currents. It may come as a surprise, but there are millions of lakes globally, and most of them create a magnificent view surrounded by mountain ranges or desert plains. You can find lakes on every continent in the world. They are everywhere, from seashores, plains, deserts, and mountainous terrain. Lakes have no fixed definition, and there is no single way to explain them. Yet, they have a list of significant features that can help quickly identify and differentiate them from other bodies of water.

Not all lakes share the same size or depth. Some lakes can be so large you might not even see the other side of the land, while there are lakes that are smaller compared to others. Other small lakes are called ponds, which don’t have much difference from lakes , other than being relatively smaller. Lake Baikal in Russia currently holds the title as the world’s deepest lake, measuring about 5,387 feet or 1.64 kilometers deep. North America’s Great Lakes , including Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan, measure up to 1,332 feet deep and extend from 193 to 350 miles. Although lakes vary in length, diameter, and depth, they all share the same unique characteristics that set them apart from other bodies of water.

The 5 Key Features that Define a Lake

From space, it is easy to see that the Earth’s composition is two-thirds water. The world is 71% water, and 96.5% of that is made up of oceans. So what about the remaining 3.5% of all the world’s waters? These remaining bodies of water are distributed into various freshwater habitats such as rivers, streams, ponds, wetlands , and lakes. Here, a whole different ecosystem lives. Only about 1.2% of the Earth’s waters can be used as drinking water. The rest are locked up in ice caps, permafrost, or glaciers, while some freshwater are buried underground. There are two types of aquatic biomes in the world – the marine biome and the freshwater biome. All marine biomes have high saltwater content, such as the seas and oceans. Freshwater biomes do not entirely mean they are free of salt, but they have less or low salt content levels than oceanic masses. It is classified into three main types: lakes , rivers, and wetlands. So what attributes help distinguish a lake?

1. Lakes are inland depressions filled with water

First things first, let’s talk about how lakes are formed. All lakes are water-filled depressions on the surface of the earth called basins. These basins are formed in multiple ways, such as glacial imprints left through moving glaciers, abandoned parts of rivers, volcanic craters, and more. But the most common way is through changes in plate tectonics. When the Earth’s crust moves and creates faults, these faults form natural basins or land depressions that are filled with water over time through rainfall or flowing streams. Lakes are characterized by an inland basin filled with water or surrounded and enclosed by land. Since they are confined to landmass, they do not flow like rivers and streams.

There are, however, open lakes where the water eventually flows to the sea. Most lakes have outlets below or above the water surface, where water is lost through the surface or underground. On the other hand, closed lakes only lose water through evaporation.

2. Lakes are standing, slow-moving bodies of water

Perhaps the easiest way to identify a lake is through its water movement. Lakes are considered lentic ecosystems characterized by still, standing, or slow-moving waters. Rivers and streams flow continuously from a water source down to the river’s mouth connecting it to the sea. Unlike rivers, lakes are calm and do not exhibit waves or currents. Lakes also seem motionless on a windless day and only show movements if applied with outside forces like wind. On the other hand, rivers will continue flowing even without the influence of wind.

To the naked eye, it might seem that lakes are stagnant. Scientifically, they are slow-moving, and the main forces that initiate slow water movements on lakes are caused by wind stress, hydraulic gradients, and density gradients. The wind force drives the water to move within the lake.

3. Lakes have vast surface areas

Defining or identifying a lake gets a bit more tricky as you try to identify it by its depth. Lakes have different depth measurements. Some can be kilometers deep, while some can be walked through on foot. But one thing is for sure – lakes have wide surface areas . A lake’s surface diameter helps people recognize it even from afar. All lakes have wide surfaces, and while some can be less than a meter deep, they are still lakes. Lakes average from 2 hectares or 5 acres to 8 hectares or 20 acres wide. New studies have estimated that about 4,200,000 km2 or less than 1% of the Earth’s total surface area is accounted for by lakes. The four Great Lakes in the United States and Canada make up a huge ratio of this entire surface area. Small, slow-moving freshwater habitats may be mistaken as lakes, but they are more commonly classified as ponds.

4. Lakes are homes to complex ecosystems

The seas and oceans are home to many marine plants and animals, but some aquatic life can only survive in freshwater. One specific and unique characteristic of a lake is its ability to nurture complex ecosystems. Complexity in ecosystems varies as each animal species and plant is diverse. Lakes foster complex ecosystems as the animals and plants living in such habitats have varying needs and environmental conditions.

The types of fish and other marine biodiversity living in a body of water can also help determine if it is a lake or not. Lakes are suitable habitats for freshwater fish and can foster marine animals throughout the year, even in cold seasons with -40°C temperatures. The trout , for instance, is a cold-loving fish that has evolved in deep lake ecosystems. One way to classify lakes is by the fish that live in them. Fishing industries rely on the type or nature of lakes to help them determine which fish they can catch in an ecosystem. For example, lakes that have thick, muddy residues indicate an abundance of catfish .

Here is a list of fish most commonly found in lakes:

Lake sturgeon

Apart from specific kinds of freshwater fish, lakes are also home to many aquatic birds. Birds like flamingos are often seen on wetlands, but most freshwater birds turn to lakes as their forever home. Here is a list of freshwater birds that inhabit lakes:

Bald eagles
Kingfishers

5. Lakes are mostly freshwater, but some can be a little salty.

Most lakes are characterized by freshwater , but it doesn’t mean that they don’t have any salt content. All lakes have at least low saltwater content, but some have salt deposits that are much higher than others. These lakes are called saline or salt lakes. Like the largest lake, the Caspian Sea, saline lakes are landlocked and do not typically connect to the sea. Since they do not flow towards other bodies of water, the salt deposits or salt minerals coming from waters flowing into the lake stay there, therefore increasing the lake’s salinity.

The most popular salt lake is the Dead Sea, which is actually a lake. It got its name from its inability to host aquatic organisms like fish, plants, or even microscopic organisms due to its incredibly salty water. The Dead Sea is eight times saltier than average seawater , and the water is so dense that you can literally float!

Sharks, lions, alligators, and more! Don’t miss today’s latest and most exciting animal news. Click here to access the A-Z Animals profile page and be sure to hit the Follow button here or at the top of this article!

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The post What is a Lake? 5 Features that Define a Lake appeared first on A-Z Animals .

Lily pads on the distant shore of Morcheau Lake in British Columbia, Canada

What Is a Capstone Project vs. Thesis

As students near the end of their academic journey, they encounter a crucial project called the capstone – a culmination of all they've learned. But what exactly is a capstone project?

This article aims to demystify capstone projects, explaining what they are, why they matter, and what you can expect when you embark on this final academic endeavor.

Capstone Project Meaning

A capstone project is a comprehensive, culminating academic endeavor undertaken by students typically in their final year of study.

It synthesizes their learning experiences, requiring students to apply the knowledge, skills, and competencies gained throughout their academic journey. A capstone project aims to address a real-world problem or explore a topic of interest in depth.

As interdisciplinary papers, capstone projects encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. They allow students to showcase their mastery of their field of study and demonstrate their readiness for future academic or professional pursuits.

Now that we’ve defined what is a capstone project, let’s discuss its importance in the academic landscape. In case you have short-form compositions to handle, simply say, ‘ do my essay for me ,’ and our writers will take care of your workload.

Why Is a Capstone Project Important

A capstone project is crucial because it allows students to combine everything they've learned in school and apply it to real-life situations or big problems.

It's like the ultimate test of what they know and can do. By working on these projects, students get hands-on experience, learn to think critically and figure out how to solve tough problems.

Plus, it's a chance to show off their skills and prove they're ready for whatever comes next, whether that's starting a career or going on to more schooling.

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What Is the Purpose of a Capstone Project

Here are three key purposes of a capstone project:

Integration of Knowledge and Skills

Capstones often require students to draw upon the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their academic program. The importance of capstone project lies in helping students synthesize what they have learned and apply it to a real-world problem or project.

This integration helps students demonstrate their proficiency and readiness for graduation or entry into their chosen profession.

Culmination of Learning

Capstone projects culminate a student's academic journey, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

tackling a significant project or problem, students demonstrate their understanding of concepts and their ability to translate them into practical solutions, reinforcing their learning journey.

Professional Development

Capstone projects allow students to develop skills relevant to their future careers. These projects can also be tangible examples of their capabilities to potential employers or graduate programs.

Whether it's conducting research, presenting findings, or collaborating with peers, students gain valuable experience that enhances their professional readiness.

Types of Capstone Projects

Capstones vary widely depending on the academic discipline, institution, and specific program requirements. Here are some common types:

What Is the Difference Between a Thesis and a Capstone Project

Here's a breakdown of the key differences between a thesis and a capstone project:

How to Write a Capstone Project

Let's dive into the specifics with actionable and meaningful steps for writing a capstone project:

1. Select a Pertinent Topic

Identify a topic that aligns with your academic interests, program requirements, and real-world relevance. Consider issues or challenges within your field that merit further exploration or solution.

Conduct thorough research to ensure the topic is both feasible and significant. Here are some brilliant capstone ideas for your inspiration.

2. Define Clear Objectives

Clearly articulate the objectives of your capstone project. What specific outcomes do you aim to achieve?

Whether it's solving a problem, answering a research question, or developing a product, ensure your objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

3. Conduct Comprehensive Research

Dive deep into existing literature, theories, and empirical evidence related to your chosen topic. Identify gaps, controversies, or areas for further investigation.

Synthesize relevant findings and insights to inform the development of your project and provide a solid foundation for your analysis or implementation.

4. Develop a Structured Plan

What is a capstone project in college without a rigid structure? Outline a comprehensive plan for your capstone project, including key milestones, tasks, and deadlines.

Break down the project into manageable phases, such as literature review, data collection, analysis, and presentation. Establish clear criteria for success and regularly monitor progress to stay on track.

5. Implement Methodological Rigor

If your project involves research, ensure methodological rigor by selecting appropriate research methods, tools, and techniques.

Develop a detailed research design or project plan that addresses key methodological considerations, such as sampling, data collection, analysis, and validity. Adhere to ethical guidelines and best practices throughout the research process.

6. Analyze and Interpret Findings

Analyze your data or findings using appropriate analytical techniques and tools. Interpret the results in relation to your research questions or objectives, highlighting key patterns, trends, or insights.

Critically evaluate the significance and implications of your findings within the broader context of your field or industry.

7. Communicate Effectively

Present your capstone project clearly, concisely, and compellingly. Whether it's a written report, presentation, or multimedia deliverable, tailor your communication style to your target audience. Clearly articulate your research questions, methodology, findings, and conclusions.

Use visuals, examples, and real-world applications to enhance understanding and engagement. Be prepared to defend your project and answer questions from peers, faculty, or stakeholders.

In wrapping up, what is a capstone project? It’s like the grand finale of your academic journey, where all the knowledge and skills you've acquired come together in one big project.

It's not just about passing a test or getting a grade – it's about proving you've got what it takes to make a real difference in the world. So, if you ever need capstone project help , our writers will gladly lend you a hand in no time.

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What Is a Capstone Project in College?

How to do a capstone project, how long does a capstone project take to complete.

Annie Lambert

specializes in creating authoritative content on marketing, business, and finance, with a versatile ability to handle any essay type and dissertations. With a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a passion for social issues, her writing not only educates but also inspires action. On EssayPro blog, Annie delivers detailed guides and thought-provoking discussions on pressing economic and social topics. When not writing, she’s a guest speaker at various business seminars.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

T. (2023, June 16). What Is a Capstone Project? National University. https://www.nu.edu/blog/what-is-a-capstone-project/
Lukins, S. (2024, May 12). What is a capstone project? And why is it important? Top Universities. https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice-articles/what-capstone-project-why-it-important
Capstone Project vs. Thesis: What’s the Difference? (2021, December 9). UAGC. https://www.uagc.edu/blog/capstone-project-vs-thesis-whats-difference

High Court to Weigh Whether EPA Must Define ‘Too Much’ Pollution

By Bobby Magill

The US Supreme Court will consider San Francisco’s challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority to tell cities not to pollute water bodies “too much” without setting a specific limitation.

San Francisco says its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permits for discharges into the Pacific Ocean don’t tell the city what it needs to do to control pollution from sewage overflows. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit last July upheld EPA’s authority to issue generic limits, or “general narrative prohibitions,” on discharges under the Clean Water Act.

The city said that if the Supreme Court doesn’t require the EPA to set specific pollution limits, the EPA can enforce NPDES permits without defining what constitutes too much pollution. The high court granted certiorari Tuesday.

The federal government began an enforcement proceeding against San Francisco on May 1 when it sued the city for “repeated and widespread failures” to operate its stormwater system and sewage treatment plants in compliance with the Clean Water Act, leaving the public vulnerable to untreated human waste and sewage exposure on the beach.

Between October 2022 and March 2023, the city released 4 billion gallons of sewage, some of it untreated, into the Pacific due to sewer system overflows caused in part by improper maintenance, according to the lawsuit.

The case, US v. City and County of San Francisco , in US District Court for the Northern District of California, is asking the court to order the city to halt its sewage overflows; comply with its NPDES permits; and pay a variety of civil penalties, including fines of up to $37,500 per day for violations between 2009 and 2015 and up to $66,712 per day for each violation thereafter.

The city says it’s committed to complying with the Clean Water Act and has spent billions of dollars on pollution control infrastructure.

“We simply want to know the requirements that apply to us, and we want EPA to follow the rules that it set up to determine those requirements,” said Jen Kwart, spokeswoman for the San Francisco Office of the City Attorney.

“The EPA is trying to tell permit holders they can’t cause ‘too much’ pollution, but it isn’t telling us what ‘too much’ is,” Kwart said. “We’re asking for clear requirements to protect water quality so we can follow them.”

Water systems nationwide want specific effluent discharge requirements so they won’t be punished for complying with vague terms of a permit that can be interpreted differently depending on the reader, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, or NACWA, said in an amicus brief .

The brief was cosigned by attorneys for the City of New York, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, and the cities of Sunnyvale and Mountain View, Calif.

NACWA said that Congress designed the NPDES program to require permit writers to use water quality standards as the basis for determining specific enforceable effluent limits.

“The Ninth Circuit’s decision allows permit writers to treat the water quality standards themselves as independently enforceable ‘limitations’ without clarifying what is actually expected of an individual discharger to comply,” NACWA said in the brief. “This interpretation ignores the statute’s clear distinction between effluent limitations and water quality standards, as well as the CWA’s overall design and history.”

The case is City and County of San Francisco v. EPA , U.S., No. 23-753, Certiorari Granted 5/28/24.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bobby Magill at [email protected]

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Zachary Sherwood at [email protected] ; JoVona Taylor at [email protected] ; Maya Earls at [email protected]

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chemical formula for caffeine with three coffee beans on the side

Many of us can’t imagine starting the day without a cup of coffee. One reason may be that it supplies us with a jolt of caffeine, a mild stimulant to the central nervous system that quickly boosts our alertness and energy levels. [1] Of course, coffee is not the only caffeine-containing beverage. Read on to learn more about sources of caffeine, and a review of the research on this stimulant and health.

Absorption and Metabolism of Caffeine

The chemical name for the bitter white powder known as caffeine is 1,3,7 trimethylxanthine. Caffeine is absorbed within about 45 minutes after consuming, and peaks in the blood anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. [2] Caffeine in beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda is quickly absorbed in the gut and dissolves in both the body’s water and fat molecules. It is able to cross into the brain. Food or food components, such as fibers, in the gut can delay how quickly caffeine in the blood peaks. Therefore, drinking your morning coffee on an empty stomach might give you a quicker energy boost than if you drank it while eating breakfast.

Caffeine is broken down mainly in the liver. It can remain in the blood anywhere from 1.5 to 9.5 hours, depending on various factors. [2] Smoking speeds up the breakdown of caffeine, whereas pregnancy and oral contraceptives can slow the breakdown. During the third trimester of pregnancy, caffeine can remain in the body for up to 15 hours. [3]

People often develop a “caffeine tolerance” when taken regularly, which can reduce its stimulant effects unless a higher amount is consumed. When suddenly stopping all caffeine, withdrawal symptoms often follow such as irritability, headache, agitation, depressed mood, and fatigue. The symptoms are strongest within a few days after stopping caffeine, but tend to subside after about one week. [3] Tapering the amount gradually may help to reduce side effects.

Sources of Caffeine

Caffeine is naturally found in the fruit, leaves, and beans of coffee , cacao, and guarana plants. It is also added to beverages and supplements. There is a risk of drinking excess amounts of caffeinated beverages like soda and energy drinks because they are taken chilled and are easy to digest quickly in large quantities.

Coffee. 1 cup or 8 ounces of brewed coffee contains about 95 mg caffeine. The same amount of instant coffee contains about 60 mg caffeine. Decaffeinated coffee contains about 4 mg of caffeine. Learn more about coffee .
Espresso. 1 shot or 1.5 ounces contains about 65 mg caffeine.
Tea. 1 cup of black tea contains about 47 mg caffeine. Green tea contains about 28 mg. Decaffeinated tea contains 2 mg, and herbal tea contains none. Learn more about tea .
Soda. A 12-ounce can of regular or diet dark cola contains about 40 mg caffeine. The same amount of Mountain Dew contains 55 mg caffeine.
Chocolate (cacao) . 1 ounce of dark chocolate contains about 24 mg caffeine, whereas milk chocolate contains one-quarter of that amount.
Guarana. This is a seed from a South American plant that is processed as an extract in foods, energy drinks, and energy supplements. Guarana seeds contain about four times the amount of caffeine as that found in coffee beans. [4] Some drinks containing extracts of these seeds can contain up to 125 mg caffeine per serving.
Energy drinks. 1 cup or 8 ounces of an energy drink contains about 85 mg caffeine. However the standard energy drink serving is 16 ounces, which doubles the caffeine to 170 mg. Energy shots are much more concentrated than the drinks; a small 2 ounce shot contains about 200 mg caffeine. Learn more about energy drinks .
Supplements. Caffeine supplements contain about 200 mg per tablet, or the amount in 2 cups of brewed coffee.

Recommended Amounts

In the U.S., adults consume an average of 135 mg of caffeine daily, or the amount in 1.5 cups of coffee (1 cup = 8 ounces). [5] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers 400 milligrams (about 4 cups brewed coffee) a safe amount of caffeine for healthy adults to consume daily. However, pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake to 200 mg a day (about 2 cups brewed coffee), according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children under age 12 should not consume any food or beverages with caffeine. For adolescents 12 and older, caffeine intake should be limited to no more than 100 mg daily. This is the amount in two or three 12-ounce cans of cola soda.

Caffeine and Health

Caffeine is associated with several health conditions. People have different tolerances and responses to caffeine, partly due to genetic differences. Consuming caffeine regularly, such as drinking a cup of coffee every day, can promote caffeine tolerance in some people so that the side effects from caffeine may decrease over time. Although we tend to associate caffeine most often with coffee or tea, the research below focuses mainly on the health effects of caffeine itself. Visit our features on coffee , tea , and energy drinks for more health information related to those beverages.

Caffeine can block the effects of the hormone adenosine, which is responsible for deep sleep . Caffeine binds to adenosine receptors in the brain, which not only lowers adenosine levels but also increases or decreases other hormones that affect sleep, including dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA. [2] Levels of melatonin, another hormone promoting sleep, can drop in the presence of caffeine as both are metabolized in the liver. Caffeine intake later in the day close to bedtime can interfere with good sleep quality. Although developing a caffeine tolerance by taking caffeine regularly over time may lower its disruptive effects, [1] those who have trouble sleeping may consider minimizing caffeine intake later in the day and before going to bed.

In sensitive individuals, caffeine can increase anxiety at doses of 400 mg or more a day (about 4 cups of brewed coffee). High amounts of caffeine may cause nervousness and speed up heart rate, symptoms that are also felt during an anxiety attack. Those who have an underlying anxiety or panic disorder are especially at risk of overstimulation when overloading on caffeine.

Caffeine stimulates the heart, increases blood flow, and increases blood pressure temporarily, particularly in people who do not usually consume caffeine. However, strong negative effects of caffeine on blood pressure have not been found in clinical trials, even in people with hypertension, and cohort studies have not found that coffee drinking is associated with a higher risk of hypertension. Studies also do not show an association of caffeine intake and atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart beat), heart disease , or stroke. [3]

Caffeine is often added to weight loss supplements to help “burn calories.” There is no evidence that caffeine causes significant weight loss. It may help to boost energy if one is feeling fatigued from restricting caloric intake, and may reduce appetite temporarily. Caffeine stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which plays a role in suppressing hunger, enhancing satiety, and increasing the breakdown of fat cells to be used for energy. [6] Cohort studies following large groups of people suggest that a higher caffeine intake is associated with slightly lower rates of weight gain in the long term. [3] However, a fairly large amount of caffeine (equivalent to 6 cups of coffee a day) may be needed to achieve a modest increase in calorie “burn.” Additional calories obtained from cream, milk, or sweetener added to a caffeinated beverage like coffee or tea can easily negate any calorie deficit caused by caffeine.

Caffeine can cross the placenta, and both mother and fetus metabolize caffeine slowly. A high intake of caffeine by the mother can lead to prolonged high caffeine blood levels in the fetus. Reduced blood flow and oxygen levels may result, increasing the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight. [3] However, lower intakes of caffeine have not been found harmful during pregnancy when limiting intakes to no more than 200 mg a day. A review of controlled clinical studies found that caffeine intake, whether low, medium, or high doses, did not appear to increase the risk of infertility. [7]

Most studies on liver disease and caffeine have specifically examined coffee intake. Caffeinated coffee intake is associated with a lower risk of liver cancer, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Caffeine may prevent the fibrosis (scarring) of liver tissue by blocking adenosine, which is responsible for the production of collagen that is used to build scar tissue. [3]

Studies have shown that higher coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of gallstones. [8] Decaffeinated coffee does not show as strong a connection as caffeinated coffee. Therefore, it is likely that caffeine contributes significantly to this protective effect. The gallbladder is an organ that produces bile to help break down fats; consuming a very high fat diet requires more bile, which can strain the gallbladder and increase the risk of gallstones. It is believed that caffeine may help to stimulate contractions in the gallbladder and increase the secretion of cholecystokinin, a hormone that speeds the digestion of fats.

Caffeine may protect against Parkinson’s disease. Animal studies show a protective effect of caffeine from deterioration in the brain. [3] Prospective cohort studies show a strong association of people with higher caffeine intakes and a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. [9]

Caffeine has a similar action to the medication theophylline, which is sometimes prescribed to treat asthma. They both relax the smooth muscles of the lungs and open up bronchial tubes, which can improve breathing. The optimal amount of caffeine needs more study, but the trials reviewed revealed that even a lower caffeine dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight showed benefit over a placebo. [10] Caffeine has also been used to treat breathing difficulties in premature infants. [3]

Caffeine stimulates the release of a stress hormone called epinephrine, which causes liver and muscle tissue to release its stored glucose into the bloodstream, temporarily raising blood glucose levels. However, regular caffeine intake is not associated with an increased risk of diabetes . In fact, cohort studies show that regular coffee intake is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes , though the effect may be from the coffee plant compounds rather than caffeine itself, as decaffeinated coffee shows a similar protective effect. [3] Other observational studies suggest that caffeine may protect and preserve the function of beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for secreting insulin. [11]

Signs of Toxicity

Caffeine toxicity has been observed with intakes of 1.2 grams or more in one dose. Consuming 10-14 grams at one time is believed to be fatal. Caffeine intake up to 10 grams has caused convulsions and vomiting, but recovery is possible in about 6 hours. Side effects at lower doses of 1 gram include restlessness, irritability, nervousness, vomiting, rapid heart rate, and tremors.

Toxicity is generally not seen when drinking caffeinated beverages because a very large amount would need to be taken within a few hours to reach a toxic level (10 gm of caffeine is equal to about 100 cups of brewed coffee). Dangerous blood levels are more often seen with overuse of caffeine pills or tablets. [3]

Did You Know?

Caffeine is not just found in food and beverages but in various medications. It is often added to analgesics (pain relievers) to provide faster and more effective relief from pain and headaches. Headache or migraine pain is accompanied by enlarged inflamed blood vessels; caffeine has the opposite effect of reducing inflammation and narrowing blood vessels, which may relieve the pain.
Caffeine can interact with various medications. It can cause your body to break down a medication too quickly so that it loses its effectiveness. It can cause a dangerously fast heart beat and high blood pressure if taken with other stimulant medications. Sometimes a medication can slow the metabolism of caffeine in the body, which may increase the risk of jitteriness and irritability, especially if one tends to drink several caffeinated drinks throughout the day. If you drink caffeinated beverages daily, talk with your doctor about potential interactions when starting a new medication.

Energy Drinks

Clark I, Landolt HP. Coffee, caffeine, and sleep: A systematic review of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials. Sleep medicine reviews . 2017 Feb 1;31:70-8. *Disclosure: some of HPL’s research has been supported by Novartis Foundation for Medical-Biological Research.
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Military Nutrition Research. Caffeine for the Sustainment of Mental Task Performance: Formulations for Military Operations. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2001. 2, Pharmacology of Caffeine. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223808/
van Dam RM, Hu FB, Willett WC. Coffee, Caffeine, and Health. NEJM . 2020 Jul 23; 383:369-378
Moustakas D, Mezzio M, Rodriguez BR, Constable MA, Mulligan ME, Voura EB. Guarana provides additional stimulation over caffeine alone in the planarian model. PLoS One . 2015 Apr 16;10(4):e0123310.
Drewnowski A, Rehm CD. Sources of caffeine in diets of US children and adults: trends by beverage type and purchase location. Nutrients . 2016 Mar;8(3):154.
Harpaz E, Tamir S, Weinstein A, Weinstein Y. The effect of caffeine on energy balance. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacolog y. 2017 Jan 1;28(1):1-0.
Bu FL, Feng X, Yang XY, Ren J, Cao HJ. Relationship between caffeine intake and infertility: a systematic review of controlled clinical studies. BMC Womens Health . 2020;20(1):125.
Zhang YP, Li WQ, Sun YL, Zhu RT, Wang WJ. Systematic review with meta‐analysis: coffee consumption and the risk of gallstone disease. Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics . 2015 Sep;42(6):637-48.
Hong CT, Chan L, Bai CH. The Effect of Caffeine on the Risk and Progression of Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis. Nutrients . 2020 Jun;12(6):1860.
Welsh EJ, Bara A, Barley E, Cates CJ. Caffeine for asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2010;2010(1):CD001112.
Lee S, Min JY, Min KB. Caffeine and Caffeine Metabolites in Relation to Insulin Resistance and Beta Cell Function in US Adults. Nutrients . 2020 Jun;12(6):1783.

Last reviewed July 2020

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Period Poverty – why millions of girls and women cannot afford their periods

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Millions of women and girls worldwide still cannot afford menstrual products or access water and sanitation facilities to manage their menstrual health and hygiene. Periods make them miss school, work, and negatively impact their health, but it does not have to be that way.

In Sitamarhi State, Bihar, India, in 2022, women hold sanitary pads during an awareness campaign as part of a menstrual hygiene management program organized by UNICEF.

What is period poverty?

Every month, more than two billion people [1] around the world menstruate . Menstruation – or period – is a natural and healthy process, yet millions of women and girls cannot afford menstrual products or access to safe water and sanitation to manage their menstrual health and hygiene. This interrupts their lives, rights, and freedoms.

Period poverty refers to the inability to afford and access menstrual products, sanitation and hygiene facilities and education and awareness to manage menstrual health. Simply put, period poverty costs women and girls too much and it doesn’t have to be this way.

What causes period poverty?

Stigma, the high cost of menstrual products, and lack of water and sanitation facilities drive period poverty around the world.

Menstrual products are prohibitively expensive for millions of people worldwide. Gender-blind policies and tax laws – for example, the “ pink tax ” on feminine products – are in part to blame, but such policy decisions go together with the stigma and taboo attached to menstruation. For example, in many states within the United States, Viagra (for erectile dysfunction) is classified as a tax-exempt health product, while sanitary products are classified as luxury goods and taxed at the highest rate.

Additionally, more than 1.5 billion people still lack basic sanitation services , such as private toilets. Not having access to safely managed toilets keeps many girls away from school and women away from work during their period. At least 1 in 10 women and girls in rural areas across 12 countries did not have a private place to wash and change during their last period .

Period poverty is also perpetuated by stigma and the lack of information and education – not only do many girls and young women lack awareness and are unprepared for their periods, but policymakers and adults with decision-making power in schools and workplaces also lack comprehensive menstrual education.

In Bangladesh and Egypt, only 32 per cent and 66 per cent of girls, respectively, said they were aware of menstruation before they got their first period , many were shocked and afraid.

Stigma and discrimination are heightened in communities where there are harmful social and cultural norms around period. In some parts of the world, even today, menstruating girls and women are seen as dirty or untouchable, restricting their movement and access to spaces. Pervasive myths include that menstruating women and girls should not touch certain food or it would rot, or enter places of worship, and that they should be isolated.

In 2014 in Senegal, government professionals participate in a training of trainers workshop on menstrual hygiene management delivered by a Joint Programme on Gender, Hygiene and Sanitation and designed and implemented by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and UN Women in West and Central Africa.

Who is affected by period poverty?

Period poverty is a global health issue affecting women and girls in both rich and poor countries. What women and girls can use to manage their menstrual health and hygiene varies widely, based on their income and whether they live in urban or rural areas.

In Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Madagascar and Zimbabwe, for example, adolescent girls and women in urban areas are more likely to use sanitary pads compared to those in rural areas , who are more likely to use cloth. One in 5 adolescent girls and women in rural Ethiopia used no materials , compared with 1 in 20 in urban areas, according to WHO and UNICEF data.

In the United States of America, 1 in 4 teens and 1 in 3 adults struggle to afford period products , especially teens of colour and lower-income households.

A 2020 survey by Plan International showed that 3 in 10 girls in the United Kingdom struggled to afford or access menstrual products and more than half of them used toilet paper instead.

UN Women joins the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization to pack thousands of dignity kits, including menstrual hygiene products to send to Gaza in February 2024. The war in Gaza has left Palestinian women and girls in devastation, without access to adequate food, water, sanitation, and hygiene, impacting their mental and physical well-being and dignity.

Challenges for menstrual health and hygiene management during crisis

There is growing consensus that managing menstruation is a health rather than a hygiene issue, and above all a human rights and gender equality issue. Today, 614 million women and girls are living in conflict-affected areas, and the number of women and girls fleeing conflict, crises and disasters is rising. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimated in 2023 that women and girls accounted for 51 per cent of all refugees . Menstruation does not stop during crisis. Yet, menstrual hygiene management and women’s and girls’ health and dignity are low priorities during crisis response.

During transit and in camps, displaced women and girls often lack privacy to change and wash. Internally displaced women and girls in Myanmar preferred disposable sanitary pads to cloths once they learned how to use and dispose them.

In UN Women’s recent report from Gaza, more than 540,000 women and girls of reproductive age lack access to items to support their hygiene, health, and dignity . They are resorting to using cloth or sponges because they cannot access menstrual products. UN Women estimates that 10 million disposable menstrual pads are needed each month to cover the needs and preserve the dignity of women and girls in Gaza.

In Lebanon, during the economic crisis, the prices of menstrual pads and other hygiene items made within the country increased by 98 – 234 per cent . In April 2020, 66 per cent of girls said they could not afford to buy menstrual products and, since menstruation is a taboo topic, most girls and women did not talk about it.

Read part 2 of this explainer: Period poverty costs too much, take action to end it!

[1] Note: Existing menstrual health data typically refer to adolescent girls and women aged 15–49. Globally, this age group comprised nearly 2 billion females in 2022. However, non-binary and trans people also experience menstruation.

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Period poverty costs too much, take action to end it

More than one million Palestinian women and girls in Gaza are facing catastrophic hunger, with almost no access to food, safe drinking water, functioning toilets or running water, creating life-threatening risks.

Six months into the war on Gaza, over 10,000 women have been killed, among them an estimated 6,000 mothers, leaving 19,000 children orphaned

Statement: Communities must lead on ending AIDS — women’s voices must lead communities

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Essay on Importance of Water
Essay on Importance of Water
Water is Precious Essay
Essay on Water
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Essay on Water

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10 Lines Essay On Importance Of Water l Essay On Save Water l Essay On World Water Day/Water Essay
Water Scarcity Essay in English
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Essay on Water bodies| Essay on Rivers|Essay on Seas|Essay on Lakes|
Uses of water / Importance of water/ essay on uses of water in english/5 sentences for uses of water
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Essay on Water for Students and Children
A.1 Water is of the utmost importance for human and animal life. It gives us water to drink. It also comes in great use for farmers and industries. Even common man requires water for various purposes like drinking, cleaning, bathing and more. Q.2 List the ways to avoid wastage of water.
Water
water, a substance composed of the chemical elements hydrogen and oxygen and existing in gaseous, liquid, and solid states. It is one of the most plentiful and essential of compounds. A tasteless and odourless liquid at room temperature, it has the important ability to dissolve many other substances. Indeed, the versatility of water as a ...
Water
Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula H 2 O.It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, and it is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a solvent).It is vital for all known forms of life, despite not providing food energy or organic micronutrients.
Water Essay for Students and Children in English
10 Lines on Water Essay in English. Water is the reason why life exists and grows on earth. 70% of earth's surface is made of water out of which only 3% is freshwater is for human consumption. Water supports all forms of life on the planet. Human beings use water for drinking, bathing, washing, in agriculture, industries and factories.
Biological Roles of Water: Why is water necessary for life?
Water creates pressure inside the cell that helps it maintain shape. In the hydrated cell (left), the water pushes outward and the cell maintains a round shape. In the dehydrated cell, there is less water pushing outward so the cell becomes wrinkled. Water also contributes to the formation of membranes surrounding cells.
Essay On Importance Of Water (Short & Long)
Short Essay On Importance Of Water. Water is one of the most essential and important resources for life on earth. It plays a critical role in supporting all living organisms, including humans, plants, and animals. ... Definition of Water. Water is a clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid that is essential for the survival of all known ...
Water Conservation Essay
100 Words Essay on Conservation of Water. Water conservation is important for a sustainable future. Every drop saved contributes to preserving this precious resource. Simple habits, such as turning off taps while not in use, fixing leaks promptly, and collecting rainwater, make a significant impact. Education and awareness among communities ...
Water
There are various sources of water. About 97% of the water on the Earth's surface is covered with water. The three main sources of water are: Rainwater. Groundwater - This includes water bodies like Wells and Springs. Surface water - This includes different water bodies like Reservoirs, Rivers, Streams, Ponds, Lakes and Tanks.
Essay on Water Is Life
Water is crucial to the existence and sustenance of life on Earth. It comprises about 60-70% of a human body, acting as a medium for biochemical reactions, a transporter of nutrients and waste, and a temperature regulator. It is the primary component of cells, tissues, and organs, and without it, life as we know it would cease to exist.
Water and sustainable development
Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself. It is vital for reducing the global burden of ...
Water is Life Essay
100 Words Essay On Water Is Life. Life is water. Water is a necessity for all life on Earth. Animals need water to quench their thirst, plants need water to draw nutrients from the soil and keep nourished, and people need water for a variety of activities like drinking, cooking, cleaning, and washing, to mention a few.
water
Water is the most important liquid on Earth. It covers almost 75 percent of Earth's surface in the form of oceans , rivers , and lakes . All plants and animals need water to live.
What Is the Water Cycle?
The water cycle is the path that all water follows as it moves around Earth in different states. Liquid water is found in oceans, rivers, lakes—and even underground. Solid ice is found in glaciers, snow, and at the North and South Poles. Water vapor—a gas—is found in Earth's atmosphere. Water can be found all over Earth in the ocean, on ...
Water Pollution Essay for Students in English
Water contamination occurs when pollutants pollute water sources and make the water unfit for use in drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities. Chemicals, garbage, bacteria, and parasites are examples of pollutants. Water is eventually damaged by all types of pollution. Lakes and oceans become contaminated by air pollution.
Water scarcity
There are two general types of water scarcity: physical and economic. Physical, or absolute, water scarcity is the result of a region's demand outpacing the limited water resources found there. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, around 1.2 billion people live in areas of physical scarcity; many of these people live in arid or semi-arid regions.
(PDF) The Meaning of Water
Abstract. Water is the most valuable resource and the most passionately contested. Drought has become an increasingly extreme problem in many parts of the world, and it is predicted that 60% of ...
Water Conservation Essay for Students
Water conservation essay will teach you how. Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas. Water Conservation Essay - Conserving Water. Life without water is not possible. We need it for many things including cleaning, cooking, using the washroom, and more. Moreover, we need clean water to lead a healthy life.
Water conservation
Water conservation aims to sustainably manage the natural resource of fresh water, protect the hydrosphere, and meet current and future human demand. It makes is possible to avoid water scarcity. It covers all the policies, strategies and activities to reach these aims. Population, household size and growth and affluence all affect how much ...
Water pollution
Water pollutants come from either point sources or dispersed sources. A point source is a pipe or channel, such as those used for discharge from an industrial facility or a city sewerage system.A dispersed (or nonpoint) source is a very broad unconfined area from which a variety of pollutants enter the water body, such as the runoff from an agricultural area.
Water pollution
Definition. A practical definition of water pollution is: "Water pollution is the addition of substances or energy forms that directly or indirectly alter the nature of the water body in such a manner that negatively affects its legitimate uses.": 6 Water is typically referred to as polluted when it is impaired by anthropogenic contaminants.
What is a Lake? 5 Features that Define a Lake
The 5 Key Features that Define a Lake. From space, it is easy to see that the Earth's composition is two-thirds water. The world is 71% water, and 96.5% of that is made up of oceans.
What Is a Capstone Project: Definition, Types, Writing Steps
2. Define Clear Objectives. Clearly articulate the objectives of your capstone project. What specific outcomes do you aim to achieve? Whether it's solving a problem, answering a research question, or developing a product, ensure your objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). 3. Conduct Comprehensive Research
High Court to Weigh Whether EPA Must Define 'Too Much' Pollution
The brief was cosigned by attorneys for the City of New York, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, and the cities of Sunnyvale and Mountain View, Calif. NACWA said that Congress designed the NPDES program to require permit writers to use water quality standards as the basis for determining specific enforceable effluent limits.
Water cycle
water cycle, cycle that involves the continuous circulation of water in the Earth - atmosphere system. Of the many processes involved in the water cycle, the most important are evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Although the total amount of water within the cycle remains essentially constant, its distribution ...
Caffeine
Caffeine in beverages such as coffee, tea, and soda is quickly absorbed in the gut and dissolves in both the body's water and fat molecules. It is able to cross into the brain. Food or food components, such as fibers, in the gut can delay how quickly caffeine in the blood peaks. Therefore, drinking your morning coffee on an empty stomach ...
How Ron DeSantis shaped Florida's environment
DeSantis cleaned house at the water management district, appointed a new board and made the reservoir a priority. "If you just look at a whole host of environmental issues across the board, he ...
US Supreme Court to consider whether EPA must set specific limits in
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to consider whether federal and state agencies must clearly define limits on wastewater pollution when issuing discharge permits, in a case involving San ...
Period Poverty
Every month, more than two billion people [1] around the world menstruate.Menstruation - or period - is a natural and healthy process, yet millions of women and girls cannot afford menstrual products or access to safe water and sanitation to manage their menstrual health and hygiene.