Blue, clear, invigorating, wet, tasteless, refreshing – If one had to describe water, these would be just a few characteristics that would come to mind. Water has fascinated and enchanted us since time immemorial. On the occasion of World Water Day on 22 March, we thought we would take a closer look at the water.
Water is the source of everything
Water is an extremely valuable commodity and without water, there is no life. Whether it is a stream, river, lake, sea, moor, or a simple lake, no matter how and where water occurs, it is a habitat for a multitude of plants and animals. Water shapes landscapes as a source of energy, a transport medium, and a raw material and was thus the cornerstone for the development of many advanced civilisations.
Water has a significant influence on our everyday life and due to increasing climate change, its importance will become even greater in the coming years. To highlight and celebrate the value of water, the United Nations declared 22 March as World Water Day in 1993. On this occasion, the World Water Conference is held annually in New York, with the aim of strengthening national and international cooperation with regard to clean water for all people.
Tips for saving water:
Whether washing clothes, cooking, showering, or flushing the toilet, we use about 120 to 190 litres of drinking water per capita every day. But the increasingly hot summers and drought show us that this is too much. With a few simple tricks, everyone can do their bit to reduce their personal water consumption. In line with the motto of this year’s World Water Day campaign “Be the change you want to see in the world”, here are a few small tips for everyday life:
- Take a shower instead of a bath
- Use a dishwasher instead of washing up by hand
- Use the washing machine and dishwasher only to full capacity
- Collect rainwater and use it for watering the garden
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth, shaving or soaping up in the shower.
- Wash fruit and vegetables together in a bowl instead of under running water.
- Repair dripping taps and hoses
A short chemistry excursion:
Water is probably the best-known chemical element and is composed of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms, H2O for short. Water is also the only chemical compound on earth that occurs in all three states of aggregation, liquid (water), solid (ice), and gaseous (steam).
(Curious) facts about and on water:
If you ever need something to talk about or want to show off your knowledge, here are a few more or less curious facts about water:
- 97% of the water on earth is salt water, so only 3% is fresh water.
- When water freezes, it expands by about 9%.
- Not all salt water is the same. The Atlantic is saltier than the Pacific.
- All the drinking water on earth has been around for 4.2 billion years. We, therefore, drink the same water as the dinosaurs once did.
- Jellyfish & cucumbers have the same water content. Both consist of 95% water.
- The Scottish word whisky originally comes from the Gaelic and means “water of life”.
- Drinking lots of water is healthy, but too much water leads to water intoxication. (Water intoxication is when the body takes in too much water in a short period of time, causing the salt levels to go haywire. But don’t worry, for water intoxication, you would have to drink five to six litres in three hours).
- Rats can go longer without water than camels.
- The very special scent of rain is called petrichor and is produced when rain falls on dry earth.
- An average raindrop measures about two millimetres and is actually round.
- It takes twice as much water to make a cup of coffee as it does to make a cup of tea.
The sea is our favourite water of all.
Crystal-clear, blue water, that very special scent, and the sound of the waves. The sea has always been a place of longing for people. Here we can switch off, be active and simply enjoy. The sea is the perfect contrast to our hectic everyday lives. The endless expanse and silence may make you feel small, but at the same time, the sea gives you a feeling of freedom and light-heartedness.
Fancy the sea? Then book your holiday now.
