WATER

THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER

WATER

Water is a transparent fluid which

forms the world's streams, lakes,
oceans and rain, and is the major
constituent of the fluids of
organisms.
As
a
chemical
compound, a water molecule
contains one oxygen and two
hydrogen
atoms
that
are
connected by covalent bonds.
Water is a liquid at standard
ambient
temperature
and
pressure, but it often co-exists on
Earth with its solid state, ice; and
gaseous state, steam (water
vapor). It also exists as snow, fog,
dew and cloud.

WATER

Water covers 71% of the Earth's

surface. It is vital for all known
forms of life. On Earth, 96.5% of the
planet's crust water is found in seas
and oceans, 1.7% in groundwater,
1.7% in glaciers and the ice caps of
Antarctica and Greenland.

Water on Earth moves continually

through
the
water
cycle
of
evaporation
and
transpiration,
condensation, precipitation, and
runoff, usually reaching the sea.
Evaporation
and
transpiration
contribute to the precipitation over
land. Water used in the production
of a good or service is known as
virtual water.

WATER

Water plays an important role in

the
world
economy,
as
it
functions as a solvent for a wide
variety of chemical substances
and facilitates industrial cooling
and transportation. Approximately
70% of the freshwater used by
humans goes to agriculture

WATER
The water cycle refers to the continuous
exchange of water within the
hydrosphere, between the atmosphere,
soil water, surface water, groundwater,
and plants.
Water moves perpetually through each of
these regions in the water cycle
consisting of following transfer processes:

Evaporation from oceans and other

water bodies into the air and
transpiration from land plants and
animals into air.

Precipitation, from water vapor

condensing from the air and falling to
earth or ocean.

Runoff from the land usually reaching

the sea.

Water pollution in Peru

Water pollution sources in Peru
include industrial waste, sewage and
oil related waste. Peru has 1746 cu
km of renewable water resources
and 86% of this water is used for
farming and 7% for industrial
activity.

Water pollution in Peru

Lake Titicaca is a specific concern

to Puno in southeastern Peru
because of its spiritual and
historical significance.

Contamination and pollution of the

lake seriously affects the health of
those that depend on it because
the monitoring and testing of the
lake is primitive, underfunded and
polluted. Because of violence in
around the area the government is
only now addressing the problem.
More than half of Peru's rivers are
extremely polluted in the North the
Chilln, Yauli and Mantaro in the
central region; and the Chili River
in the South.

Water crisis in Peru

the glaciers are melting at a rapid

and increasing rate every year.
This diminished glacial water will
result in decreased stocks of
drinking
water,
water
for
irrigation, and water pressure to
power hydroelectric facilities.

Water crisis in Peru

Perus impending water crisis is due

in large part to the location of the
countrys major population and
agricultural centers in relation to the
location
of
water
resources.
Currently, 70 percent of the
countrys population lives on the
arid Pacific coast, where less than 2
percent of the water resources are
located. Meanwhile, 98 percent of
the countrys water is found on the
eastern side of the Andes.

Experts have already determined

that if there are drought conditions
for two consecutive years, the
condition in the capitals water
reserves will not be able to meet
demand.

Alternative Solutions

Peru must start conserving water,

especially in urban settings. This
means reducing the amount of
water that is lost to inefficiencies
between the utility companies
and hydroelectric facilities.

These changes will be difficult to

implement on a nationwide scale,
as
installing
new
irrigation
systems and changing industrial
operations
require
significant
capital investments.

Alternative Solutions

the government must consider

alternate resources of water such
as
desalination
technologies.
Though
the
technology
is
expensive and inadequate for
providing drinking water for a
population the size of Lima, it
may be useful for providing water
for irrigation if costs can be kept
low enough.

Alternative Solutions

Whatever the solution may be the

time has come for Peru to make
the difficult decisions that are
necessary to protect the countrys
water security.