Water as a resource

1. Supports life: Water is essential for all living organisms.
2. Generates power: Used to produce hydroelectric energy for homes and industries.
3. Agriculture and domestic use: Vital for irrigation, household, and industrial activities.
4. Economic benefits: Provides habitats for aquatic life (food and income) and resources like salt and bicarbonate of soda from lakes.

The pollution of water resources can be caused by a number of activities such as agricultural activities which are done near water sources and the burning and cutting down of trees and forests near water sources without proper conservation plans. Other activities include discharge of waste water by industries and households. If such water flows into rivers, lakes and seas, it causes water pollution. Also, illegal fishing such as the use of poison and toxic substances to catch fish destroys and pollutes water. These actions affect and kill the living things found in water sources.

In order for us to protect water resources, we must:

1. Educate our people on the importance of water as a resource and on the best way to conserve it;
2. Enforce the rules and regulations that prohibit the carrying out of human activities near sources of water;
3. Stop cutting down trees in areas which are near and around water sources;
4. Treat waste water from industries before releasing it into rivers, lakes and seas;
5. Prohibit illegal fishing practices such as using poison and explosives to catch fish; and
6. Harvest rain water.