2.4.3. USES OF WATER

Water used in the houses for the purposes of drinking, bathing, washing clothes, cooking, sanitary & other needs. The recommended value according to Indian standard specification for domestic use is 135 liters/day.

Domestic water use refers to the water consumed for everyday household activities. This includes drinking water, water for hygiene such as bathing and washing, cooking, and for other sanitary needs. The Indian standards suggest that an average individual requires around 135 liters of water per day for these various activities to maintain proper health and hygiene.

Think of water use in a household like a family using different appliances in a kitchen. Just as a family needs a stove for cooking, a refrigerator for keeping food fresh, and a sink for washing dishes, they also need water for drinking, cleaning, and personal use to ensure a clean and healthy living environment.

Water is required for various industries such as cement, mining, textile, leather industries.

Industries utilize water in various processes for production, cooling, and cleaning purposes. For example, manufacturing cement involves mixing water with raw materials to form a slurry, while textile factories use large quantities of water for dyeing fabrics and washing them during production. The leather industry also relies on water for tanning processes.

Consider a textile factory as a large kitchen where fabric is the dish being prepared. Just like water is essential for cooking and cleaning ingredients in a kitchen, water is crucial for processing fabric, dying colors, and washing the finished products in a textile factory.

This includes water used for public utility purposes such as watering parks, flushing streets, jails, etc.

Public water use refers to water that is utilized for community-related activities. This can involve irrigation of public parks, cleaning streets, and supplying water for social institutions like jails. This use of water ensures that public spaces remain clean, healthy, and functional for the community.

Public water usage is similar to maintaining a neighborhood park. Just as the grass and plants need to be watered for the park to remain beautiful and inviting, water is needed by municipalities to keep streets, parks, and communal facilities clean and usable.

Water is used in case of accidents and to prevent fire issues.

Water serves a critical role in firefighting and accident management. In the event of a fire, water is the most common material used to extinguish flames, due to its ability to absorb heat and cool the environment. Fire departments typically have large reservoirs of water on hand for quick response.

Think of a firefighter as a chef with a fire extinguisher instead of a spatula. Just as a chef might splash water to cool a dish that’s too hot, firefighters use water to cool burning materials and eliminate flames, demonstrating the versatility of water in both cooking and safety.

To grow crops which is the main source for food.

Irrigation involves supplying water to crops to enhance growth during periods of little rainfall. Agriculture heavily relies on watered fields for better yields, especially in areas with inconsistent precipitation. Proper irrigation can increase food production significantly and ensure food security.

Think of irrigation as giving a plant a drink of water when it's thirsty. Just as we need to water our houseplants to keep them healthy and thriving, farmers need to irrigate their crops, especially when rain doesn’t fall frequently enough to meet the plants' needs.

Hydro electric power generation requires water.

Water is also used extensively in generating hydroelectric power. Dams harness the energy of flowing water to produce electricity. As water flows through turbines, it generates power used in homes and industries. This source of energy is renewable and significantly reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

Imagine water as the fuel for a water wheel in a riverside village. Just like the wheel turns to grind grain or perform other tasks using the force of water, hydroelectric plants use moving water to generate electricity that powers our cities and homes.

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