WATER THE VERSATILE RESOURCE

Water, one of the fundamental resources, is also one of the most unusual substance. Although its chemical formula is simple yet the effect of water on environment is more consequential than ever imagined. As the universal solvent', it possesses extra ordinary ability to dissolve a broad range of substances. The salinity of the world's oceans is a direct result of water's ability to dissolve rock materials as it flows overland to sea. It has the highest heat of vaporization. Because of water's high heat capacity, the presence of oceans, lakes and large rivers, prevents extreme fluctuation in local temperatures. Even within the human body(75% water by volume) water is critical in maintaining uniform body temperature.

The Earth's atmosphere contains 0.02 to 4 percent water by volume, depending on the location. In addition to providing sources for precipitation, atmospheric water vapor intercepts some of the ultraviolet radiation and intercepts heat

loss from the earth and redirects part of it to the Earth. Thus water plays a major role in virtually every aspect of human life. Regrettably, too few of us understand the physical and chemical properties of water well enough to effectively solve urgent and nearly universal problems relating to its cost, availability, distribution and contamination. Water problems of any type stem largely from lack of knowledge and therefore, from mis-management of this versatile resource.