freshwater

Water has properties that make it essential to life. And although the earth is known as “the water planet,” it has limited quantities of available freshwater. Humans need clean water to keep them healthy. Water can take three forms: liquid, solid (ice) and gas (vapor). Water exists in all three forms on Earth. Water can travel great distances. Water is called the “universal solvent” by chemists because it is very good at dissolving many different things. At this moment, the Earth has all the water it has ever had or will ever have. The hydrosphere is all the water on Earth. Compared to many countries, the US is water rich. We have 39 million surface acres of lakes and reservoirs. Agriculture is the biggest user of water. Water is the most important natural resource in Texas. Pure water is clear and transparent to light. Water may look clean but still be polluted. Pollution can also occur when too much organic matter, such as manure or human sewage, gets in the water and decays. The amounts and types of pollution in water affect water quality, which is water’s fitness for a particular use. Fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and all other wildlife depend on water for life. In particular, aquatic resources such as fish require abundant clean water.