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Water is essential for human life. According to scientists, water has unique chemical properties that support the basic processes of the human body, which is essential for human existence. In fact, without water, no organic organism would be able to thrive. At an average, the human body is, more or less, 60% water while 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water. It is ironic though that despite the abundance of water, access to clean and potable water is still a global concern. Most of the earth’s water resources, for instance, are found trapped under the earth’s surface, in the ice caps at the poles, in ice bergs or found in the oceans and seas. The earth’s natural resources for fresh water, such as rivers and lakes, on the other hand, are not readily accessible. Just like essential commodities such as electricity and gas, before these water resources can be tapped, people would have to build infrastructures and delivery systems. Over the years, little has changed in the technology pertaining to water resources and delivery. So far, the creation of dams, watersheds, and aquifers are still the dominant and most effective method of water supply system. New York, for instance, is one of the most progressive cities in the world and yet its water supply system relies on water acquired from watersheds and reservoirs . Today, providing access to clean and potable water has become even more important than before. The world’s increasing human population as well as the growth of industries and commercial establishments, for instance, significantly impacts the demand for water and the utilization of water resources. Apparently, water demand increases in direct proportion to society’s growth, which also strains the limited supply of potable water. With society’s growing demand for water, providing a reliable water supply remains an ongoing challenge that civil and water resource engineers need to address.
Works Cited
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