Water in Our Lives

Every day, we use water many times. We drink water. We wash our hands with water. We cook with water. We clean our clothes with water. We take baths with water.

Water is very important for our lives. We cannot live without water. But where does all this water come from? How does it get to our homes?

Water from the Sky

Most of our water starts as rain. When it rains, water falls from the sky to the ground.

Some of this water goes into rivers. Rivers are long lines of water that move across the land. The water in rivers moves from high places to low places. Many rivers are very long. They can go through many towns and cities.

Some rain water goes into lakes. Lakes are large areas of water that stay in one place. Lakes can be small or very big.

Some rain water goes down into the ground. This water moves slowly through the earth. It can stay under the ground for a long time.

Getting Water to Our Homes

People need clean water in their homes. So cities and towns have ways to bring water to us.

First, water comes from a river, a lake, or from under the ground. Large tubes bring the water to a special building. At this building, workers clean the water.

Workers take out dirt and other bad things from the water. They add special materials to kill any small living things that could make us sick. They make sure the water is safe to drink.

After the water is clean, it goes into very large tubes under the ground. You cannot see them, but they are there—under the streets and under the buildings.

The large tubes connect to smaller tubes. The smaller tubes go to every house and every building. When you open the water in your home, the water comes through these tubes.

Some places also have tall buildings that hold water high in the air. The water stays there until people need it. When you open your water, the water can flow down from the high place to your home. This helps make sure there is always enough water for everyone.

Why Clean Water is Important

Clean water keeps us well. If water has dirt or bad things in it, it can make us very sick.

A long time ago, many people got sick from bad water. Many people died. Cities did not have good ways to clean water.

Today, most cities in rich countries have good water systems. The water that comes to your home is safe to drink. You can open the water in your kitchen and drink it.

But many people in poor countries do not have clean water. They have to walk far to get water. Sometimes the water they get is not clean. This makes many people sick every year.

Groups around the world are working to help. They are making wells to get clean water from under the ground. They are teaching people how to clean water. They are helping more people get safe water to drink.

Saving Water

Even in places with good water systems, we need to be careful with water. We should not use too much.

Why? Because clean water is not without end. If too many people use too much water, there might not be enough for everyone.

Also, it takes power to clean water and bring it to our homes. If we use less water, we use less power too.

Here are some ways to save water:

Close the water when you clean your teeth. Don’t let it run.

Take shorter baths or showers.

Fix any places where water comes out in drops. Even small drops can lose a lot of water over time.

Only wash clothes when you have enough for a full load.

Water is Life

Water is one of the most important things in our lives. We need it every day. We are very lucky if we can open the water and get clean, safe water.

Remember that many people worked hard to bring that water to your home. And remember that many people in the world still do not have clean water.

So use water with care. Be thankful for it. And think about ways you can help make sure everyone in the world can have clean, safe water.