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The Importance of Water: The Vital Essence

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Published: Sep 7, 2023

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Water and human health, environmental balance, agriculture and food security, industrial and economic significance, challenges of water scarcity and pollution, responsible water management.

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Essay on Water in English (500+ Words)

Water is a fundamental and essential component of life. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and transparent liquid, and it covers over 70 percent of the Earth’s surface. It is a vital resource that is necessary for the survival of all living organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. Water is not only a basic necessity for life but is also essential for agriculture, transportation, industry, and recreation.

Water has several unique properties that make it an important substance. For example, water is a universal solvent, meaning it can dissolve many different types of substances, including salt, sugar, and minerals. This property allows water to carry essential nutrients and minerals to living organisms. Water is also an excellent coolant and has a high heat capacity, making it an ideal substance for regulating body temperature.

Water exists in three different states: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (water vapor). It is the only substance that can exist in all three states naturally. This unique property of water is significant as it allows for the natural cycling of water, which is crucial for the survival of all living organisms.

One of the most significant uses of water is for drinking and human consumption. Access to clean drinking water is a basic human right, and unfortunately, many people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water. Waterborne diseases are a significant cause of illness and death in many developing countries, and access to clean drinking water is essential for reducing the spread of these diseases. It is crucial that we work to ensure that everyone has access to safe and clean drinking water.

Agriculture is another significant use of water. Water is necessary for the growth of crops, and without it, agricultural production would be impossible. Irrigation is the process of artificially providing water to crops, and it is essential for maintaining agricultural production in areas with low rainfall. However, improper irrigation practices can lead to soil erosion, waterlogging, and salinization, which can be detrimental to the environment.

The industrial sector is another significant user of water. Water is used in a variety of industrial processes, including manufacturing, power generation, and mining. In many cases, water is used as a coolant or a solvent in these processes. However, industrial activities can also lead to water pollution, which can have severe environmental consequences.

Water transportation is another important use of water. Rivers, lakes, and oceans are used for transporting goods and people all around the world. Water transportation is particularly important for trade, as it allows for the movement of goods between countries and continents.

Recreation is another important use of water. Many people enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, and other water-related activities. Water recreation is not only enjoyable but can also be beneficial for mental and physical health. However, it is important to be aware of the potential dangers of water recreation, such as drowning, and take appropriate safety measures.

Despite the many benefits of water, it is also a significant source of environmental problems. Water pollution is one of the most significant environmental issues facing the world today. Human activities such as industrialization, urbanization, and agriculture have all contributed to the pollution of water sources. Water pollution can have severe environmental consequences, such as the destruction of aquatic ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and the spread of waterborne diseases.

Climate change is also affecting the availability and quality of water resources. Rising global temperatures are leading to changes in precipitation patterns, which are affecting the availability of water in many regions. Climate change is also leading to sea level rise, which is causing saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources in coastal areas.

Importance of Water

Essential for life: Water is essential for all forms of life on Earth. Without water, humans, animals, and plants cannot survive.
Drinking water: Access to clean and safe drinking water is crucial for human health. Lack of access to clean drinking water can lead to various waterborne diseases.
Agriculture: Water is essential for agriculture, which provides food for the world’s population. Agriculture accounts for the largest amount of water use globally.
Industry: Water is used in various industrial processes, such as manufacturing, mining, and energy production.
Climate regulation: Water plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Water bodies absorb and store heat, which helps to regulate temperature.
Transportation: Water transportation is an important mode of transportation for goods and people.
Recreation: Water bodies provide opportunities for recreational activities like swimming, fishing, and boating, which contribute to the tourism industry.

In conclusion, water is an essential component of life. It is a vital resource that is necessary for the survival of all living organisms, and it is also important for agriculture, transportation, industry, and recreation.

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Biology Article

Water is a precious natural resource. All living things need water for their survival. We cannot imagine life without water. Let it be animals or plants they require water to complete their daily metabolic activities. Plants require water to synthesize their food from the process of photosynthesis.

On average, an individual uses 600 to 700 litres in a day. We all can live without food for days together but cannot even imagine surviving without water, even plants become dry and shed their leaves without water.

Let us learn some more importance to water.

What is Water?

Water is one of the natural resources, which are found in an adequate amount. It is an essential source for the existence of life on the planet earth. It is widely used for various purposes such as drinking, washing, bathing, cleaning, cooking, irrigation, and other industrial and domestic uses.

Sources of Water

There are various sources of water. About 97% of the water on the Earth’s surface is covered with water. The three main sources of water are:

Groundwater – This includes water bodies like Wells and Springs.
Surface water – This includes different water bodies like Reservoirs, Rivers, Streams, Ponds, Lakes and Tanks.

Importance of Water

We all need water for different daily activities including:

Domestic Purposes include bathing, cleaning, cooking, drinking, and washing.
Agricultural applications include irrigation, farming, gardening, and frost control.
Other Industrial Applications.

Apart from this, we drink water to:

Stay hydrated
Lubricate Joints
Regulate the body’s temperature
Transport nutrients and other waste in the body.
Balance the loss of water from the digestive tract and body tissues.

Water Cycle

Water never stops moving. The water cycle mainly describes the process of the continuous movement of water from the surface of the earth and it is usually carried out in four different stages. The entire cycle is controlled by the sun and is also known as the hydrological cycle

Evaporation : In this stage, the heat from the sun heats up the water from oceans and other water bodies and evaporates the water in the form of vapours which rises up and form clouds.

Condensation : The water vapour’s in the clouds cools down.

Precipitation : The cooled water vapours in the clouds form droplets and released in the form of Precipitation back to the earth surface in the form of rain or snow.

Collection : The rainwater runs off to the ground and gets collected into the river, ponds, well, and back to the sea.

As mentioned above, about 97% of the water on the Earth’s surface is covered with water. Only 2 to 3% is available and safe for drinking. Rest of the water is saltwater and other two-thirds of the Earth’s freshwater is frozen in glaciers and these water resources are mostly inaccessible for human use.

This is the reason, we all need to reduce wasting this natural resource and conserve water for future requirements.

Also, read about How Can We Conserve Water?

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Essay on Water Is Life

Students are often asked to write an essay on Water Is Life in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Water Is Life

Importance of water.

Water is a vital resource for all living beings. It is essential for our survival. Without water, life on earth would not exist.

Role in Our Body

Water makes up about 70% of our body. It helps in digestion, circulation, and maintaining body temperature.

Water in Nature

Water forms rivers, oceans, and rains that nourish the earth. It is crucial for the growth of plants and animals.

Conservation

Water is a limited resource. We must conserve it to ensure a healthy future for our planet.

Also check:

10 Lines on Water Is Life
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Speech on Water Is Life

250 Words Essay on Water Is Life

Introduction.

Water, a simple molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, is the lifeblood of our planet. It is the most abundant and essential resource, without which life as we know it would not exist.

The Essence of Life

Water is the fundamental building block of life. It is involved in every bodily function, from digestion and circulation to temperature regulation and waste removal. The human body is approximately 60% water, reflecting its importance in maintaining life and health.

Water and the Environment

Water’s role extends beyond the individual organism. It is integral to maintaining Earth’s delicate ecosystems. Water cycles through our environment, from the atmosphere to the earth and back again, supporting plant and animal life, shaping landscapes, and influencing climate patterns.

The Social and Economic Impact of Water

Water also plays a significant role in social and economic structures. It is vital for agriculture, industry, and energy production. Access to clean water is a determinant of societal health and prosperity. Yet, water scarcity, pollution, and mismanagement pose major challenges, with profound implications for human rights, social equity, and global stability.

In conclusion, water is life. It is the essence of biological function, the driver of ecological systems, and the underpinning of social and economic structures. As we face a future of increasing water scarcity and pollution, understanding and respecting the critical role of water is more important than ever. We must strive to conserve and protect this invaluable resource, for it is not just water, but life itself.

500 Words Essay on Water Is Life

The essence of life: water.

Water, the most vital natural resource, is the lifeblood of every living organism on Earth. From microscopic organisms to the largest mammals, all life forms depend on water for survival. This universal solvent, often referred to as the “elixir of life,” performs essential roles in biological processes, climatic regulation, and economic development.

Water: The Biological Imperative

Water is crucial to the existence and sustenance of life on Earth. It comprises about 60-70% of a human body, acting as a medium for biochemical reactions, a transporter of nutrients and waste, and a temperature regulator. It is the primary component of cells, tissues, and organs, and without it, life as we know it would cease to exist.

In the plant kingdom, water is instrumental for photosynthesis, the process by which plants produce food. It also facilitates the transportation of nutrients from the roots to other parts of the plant. Hence, the absence of water would disrupt the food chain, leading to catastrophic effects on all life forms.

Water and Climate

Water plays a significant role in regulating Earth’s climate. The hydrological cycle, involving evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff, is a key driver of weather patterns. Oceans, which hold about 97% of Earth’s water, absorb heat from the sun and distribute it around the globe through ocean currents, thereby moderating global temperatures.

Furthermore, water in the form of ice at the poles and high altitudes reflects sunlight back into space, helping to stabilize Earth’s temperature. The melting of this ice due to global warming is a cause for concern as it could lead to a rise in sea levels and drastic changes in climate.

Economic Importance of Water

Water is indispensable for economic development. It is essential for agriculture, which is the primary source of livelihood for a large portion of the global population. Industries such as power generation, manufacturing, and tourism also rely heavily on water. Moreover, waterways serve as important routes for trade and transportation, contributing significantly to the global economy.

Water Scarcity and Conservation

Despite its abundance, water scarcity is a pressing issue in many parts of the world due to factors like overpopulation, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. This underscores the need for efficient water management and conservation.

Water conservation can be achieved through strategies like rainwater harvesting, recycling and reusing wastewater, and adopting water-efficient technologies. It is also crucial to create awareness about the importance of water and the need for its conservation.

In conclusion, water is not just a life-sustaining resource but the very essence of life. It is a critical component of biological processes, a key climate regulator, and an economic catalyst. However, the growing water scarcity necessitates urgent action to conserve and manage this invaluable resource. As we recognize water’s integral role in our lives, it becomes our collective responsibility to ensure its availability for future generations. After all, water is life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Water and sustainable development

Water and the green economy
Water cooperation
Water quality
Water scarcity
FOCUS REGIONS
Asia and the Pacific
Latin America and the Caribbean
RESOURCES FOR
Kids and Youth
UN e-RESOURCES
UN Publications
UN Photobanks
UN Video Library
UN Websites

Water is at the core of sustainable development and is critical for socio-economic development, healthy ecosystems and for human survival itself. It is vital for reducing the global burden of disease and improving the health, welfare and productivity of populations. It is central to the production and preservation of a host of benefits and services for people. Water is also at the heart of adaptation to climate change, serving as the crucial link between the climate system, human society and the environment.

Water is a finite and irreplaceable resource that is fundamental to human well-being. It is only renewable if well managed. Today, more than 1.7 billion people live in river basins where depletion through use exceeds natural recharge, a trend that will see two-thirds of the world’s population living in water-stressed countries by 2025. Water can pose a serious challenge to sustainable development but managed efficiently and equitably, water can play a key enabling role in strengthening the resilience of social, economic and environmental systems in the light of rapid and unpredictable changes.

What is "sustainable development"?

Sustainable development was explicitly popularized and contextualized by the Brundtland Commission in the document "Our Common Future" where it was defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (UN, 1987). The Brundtland Commission focused on three pillars of human well being: economic, socio-political and ecological/environmental conditions. The basic concept endorses putting in place strong measures to spur economic and social development, particularly for people in developing countries, while ensuring that environmental integrity is sustained for future generations.

Water, sustainable development, the MDGs and the SDGs

The millennium development goals (mdgs).

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), agreed in 2000, aim to halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation between 1990 and 2015.

A total of 748 million people still do not have access to an improved drinking water source and existing indicators do not address the safety and reliability of water supplies. To reach the requirements of the right to access to safe drinking water requires real improvements for several billions of people.

In July 2010, the General Assembly adopted a resolution, which “recognized the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights”. ( A/RES/64/292 ).

The MDG target for sanitation is an even more pressing challenge, with 2.5 billion people currently lacking access to improved sanitation and over one billion still practicing open defecation. At current rates of progress, the sanitation target will be missed by over half a billion people.

These global aggregates also mask large disparities between nations and regions, rich and poor, between rural and urban populations, as well as between disadvantaged groups and the general population.

There is currently no global target to improve hygiene , despite this being one of the single most cost-effective public health interventions.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

The Rio+20 Conference in 2012 was an opportunity to reflect on progress towards sustainable development over the previous 20 years. One of its main outcomes was an agreement to launch a process to develop a set of Sustainable Development Goals, which build on the Millennium Development Goals and converge with the post-2015 development agenda.

2015 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Water and Sustainable Development: From Vision to Action. 15-17 January 2015

The Zaragoza Conference focused on the tools for implementation stated in the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro from 20 to 22 June 2012, entitled "The future we want" , which includes finance, technology and capacity building, adding the institutional and policy dimensions.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Water

As the time limit for the MDGs draws to a close in 2015, the global community is taking stock of how it can move towards a sustainable future. The MDG framework did not address the full water and development agenda, nor fully recognize its synergies with other areas and concerns. Emphasis on ‘Sustainability’ was not included and human rights and inequalities were also largely ignored in the MDG framework. Subsequently, member states have agreed that human rights, equality and sustainability should form the core of the development agenda and be recognized as critical for true development.

UN-Water’s overarching goal is “Securing Sustainable Water for All”. The water goal and targets directly address the development aims of societies, promote human dignity and ensure achievements are sustainable over the long term leading to the following development outcomes, amongst others:

Sustainable development, water, and…

Agriculture is by far the thirstiest consumer of water globally, accounting for 70% of water withdrawals worldwide, although this figure varies considerably across countries. Rainfed agriculture is the predominant agricultural production system around the world, and its current productivity is, on average, little more than half the potential obtainable under optimal agricultural management. By 2050, world agriculture will need to produce 60% more food globally, and 100% more in developing countries.

Industry and energy together account for 20% of water demand. More-developed countries have a much larger proportion of freshwater withdrawals for industry than less-developed countries, where agriculture dominates. Balancing the requirements of sustainability against the conventional view of industrial mass production creates a number of conundrums for industry. One of the biggest is globalization and how to spread the benefits of industrialization worldwide and without unsustainable impacts on water and other natural resources.

Domestic sector accounts for 10% of total water use. And yet, worldwide, an estimated 748 million people remain without access to an improved source of water and 2.5 billion remain without access to improved sanitation.

Cities . More than half the world already lives in urban areas and by 2050, it is expected that more than two-thirds of the global population of 9 billion will be living in cities. Furthermore, most of this growth will happen in developing countries, which have limited capacity to deal with this rapid change, and the growth will also lead to increase in the number of people living in slums, which often have very poor living conditions, including inadequate water and sanitation facilities. Therefore, the development of water resources for economic growth, social equity and environmental sustainability will be closely linked with the sustainable development of cities.

Ecosystems . Perhaps the most important challenge to sustainable development to have arisen in the last decades is the unfolding global ecological crisis that is becoming a barrier to further human development. From an ecological perspective, the sustainable development efforts have not been successful. Global environmental degradation has reached a critical level with major ecosystems approaching thresholds that could trigger massive collapse. The growing understanding of global planetary boundaries, which must be respected to protect Earth’s life support systems, needs to be the very basis of the future sustainable development framework.

Trend for weight of plastic packaging generation y Trend for waste streams in US municipal waste output

Did you know?

Over 1.7 billion people are currently living in river basins where water use exceeds recharge, leading to the desiccation of rivers, depletion of groundwater and the degradation of ecosystems and the services they provide.
As countries develop and populations grow, global water demand (in terms of withdrawals) is projected to increase by 55% by 2050 . Already by 2025, two thirds of the world’s population could be living in water-stressed countries if current consumption patterns continue.
The economic loss from the inadequate delivery of water and sanitation was estimated to amount to 1.5 % of gross domestic product of the countries included in a WHO study on meeting the MDGs.
According to some estimates, over 80% of wastewater is discharged without treatment.
Water-related disasters are the most economically and socially destructive of all natural disasters. Since the original Rio Earth Summit in 1992 floods, droughts and storms have affected 4.2 billion people (95% of all people affected by disasters) and caused USD 1.3 trillion of damage (63% of all damage).

To learn more

Prototype Global Sustainable Development Report

>> Access most recent publications on water and sanitation in the post-2015 agenda from the UN Documentation on Water and Sanitation

United Nations, 2012. A/RES/66/288. The Future We Want – Outcome Document of the Rio+20 Conference.
United Nations, 1987. Our Common Future, Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development.
UNDESA, 2012. Sustainable Development for the 21st Century Back to our Common Future (2012) UNDESA.
UNESCO, 2009. UN World Water Development Report 3. Paris.
UNISDR, 2012. Impacts of Disasters since the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-HABITAT, GRID-Arendal, 2010. Sick Water? The central role of wastewater management in sustainable development. A Rapid Response Assessment.
United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, 2013.
UN-Water, 2014. A Post-2015 Global Goal for Water: Synthesis of key findings and recommendations from UN-Water.
UN-Water, 2008. Sharing benefits, sharing responsibilities.
WHO, 2012. Global costs and benefits of drinking-water supply and sanitation interventions to reach the MDG target and universal coverage.
WHO/HSE/WSH/12.01. Geneva.
WHO/UNICEF, 2014. Progress on sanitation and drinking-water - 2014 Update. World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF.
WWAP, 2014. 5th United Nations World Water Development Report 2014: Water and Energy. Paris, UNESCO.

"Environmental, economic and social indicators tell us that our current model of progress is unsustainable. Ours is a world of looming challenges and increasingly limited resources. Sustainable development offers the best chance to adjust our course." Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General

"The UN is working with governments, civil society and other partners to shape an ambitious sustainable development framework to meet the needs of both people and planet, providing economic transformation and opportunity to lift people out of poverty, advancing social justice and protecting the environment." The Future We Want: Outcome document adopted at Rio+20

"Water is at the core of sustainable development as it is closely linked to a number of key global challenges." The Future We Want: Outcome document adopted at Rio+20

>> UN-Water Stakeholder Dialogue at World Water Week 2013: Triggering Action on Water through the Post 2015 Agenda UNW-DPAC, UNW-DPC, WWAP. September 2013 Duration: 3h23min

Video record of session 'Triggering Action on Water through the Post-2015 Agenda' at World Water Week, 1 September 2013. Participants in this seminar presented and discussed the most recent proposals for a Water Sustainable Development Goal. There are different proposals as well as for targets and indicators covering both access to basic water and sanitation services, water resources management and pollution and wastewater management. But will these trigger action in the same way as the Millennium Development Goal target on water has done?

Water Conservation Essay

500+ words essay on water conservation.

Water makes up 70% of the earth as well as the human body. There are millions of marine species present in today’s world that reside in water. Similarly, humankind also depends on water. All the major industries require water in some form or the other. However, this precious resource is depleting day by day. The majority of the reasons behind it are man-made only. Thus, the need for water conservation is more than ever now. Through this water conservation essay, you will realize how important it is to conserve water and how scarce it has become.

Water Scarcity- A Dangerous Issue

Out of all the water available, only three per cent is freshwater. Therefore, it is essential to use this water wisely and carefully. However, we have been doing the opposite of this till now.

Every day, we keep exploiting water for a variety of purposes. In addition to that, we also keep polluting it day in and day out. The effluents from industries and sewage discharges are dispersed into our water bodies directly.

Moreover, there are little or no facilities left for storing rainwater. Thus, floods have become a common phenomenon. Similarly, there is careless use of fertile soil from riverbeds. It results in flooding as well.

Therefore, you see how humans play a big role in water scarcity. Living in concrete jungles have anyway diminished the green cover. On top of that, we keep on cutting down forests that are a great source of conserving water.

Nowadays, a lot of countries even lack access to clean water. Therefore, water scarcity is a real thing. We must deal with it right away to change the world for our future generations. Water conservation essay will teach you how.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Water Conservation Essay – Conserving Water

Life without water is not possible. We need it for many things including cleaning, cooking, using the washroom, and more. Moreover, we need clean water to lead a healthy life.

We can take many steps to conserve water on a national level as well as an individual level. Firstly, our governments must implement efficient strategies to conserve water. The scientific community must work on advanced agricultural reforms to save water.

Similarly, proper planning of cities and promotion of water conservation through advertisements must be done. On an individual level, we can start by opting for buckets instead of showers or tubs.

Also, we must not use too much electricity. We must start planting more trees and plants. Rainwater harvesting must be made compulsory so we can benefit from the rain as well.

Further, we can also save water by turning off the tap when we brush our teeth or wash our utensils. Use a washing machine when it is fully loaded. Do not waste the water when you wash vegetables or fruit, instead, use it to water plants.

All in all, we must identify water scarcity as a real issue as it is very dangerous. Further, after identifying it, we must make sure to take steps to conserve it. There are many things that we can do on a national level as well as an individual level. So, we must come together now and conserve water.

FAQ of Water Conservation Essay

Question 1: Why has water become scarce?

Answer 1: Water has become scarce due to a lot of reasons most of which are human-made. We exploit water on a daily basis. Industries keep discharging their waste directly into water bodies. Further, sewage keeps polluting the water as well.

Question 2: How can we conserve water?

Answer 2: The government must plan cities properly so our water bodies stay clean. Similarly, water conservation must be promoted through advertisements. On an individual level, we can start by fixing all our leaky taps. Further, we must avoid showers and use buckets instead to save more water.

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Water Pollution Essay

Water Pollution and How it Harms the Environment

Global pollution is a problem. Pollution can spread to remote areas where no one lives, despite the fact that urban areas are typically more polluted than the countryside. Air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution are the three main categories of pollution. Some contaminated water has a terrible smell, a muddy appearance, and floating trash. Some contaminated water appears clean, but it contains dangerous substances that you can't see or smell.

Together, developed and developing nations must fight to conserve the environment for present and future generations. Today, we dig deep into the subject of Water Pollution. This article can be an introduction to water pollution for kids as we will read many things such as the causes of water pollution further in the article.

What is Water Pollution?

Water contamination occurs when pollutants pollute water sources and make the water unfit for use in drinking, cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities. Chemicals, garbage, bacteria, and parasites are examples of pollutants. Water is eventually damaged by all types of pollution. Lakes and oceans become contaminated by air pollution. Land contamination may contaminate an underground stream, a river, and ultimately the ocean. As a result, trash thrown on an empty lot can eventually contaminate a water source.

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Water Pollution

The water cycle, called the hydrological cycle, involves the following steps:

Evaporation- Because of the sun's heat, the water bodies such as oceans, lakes, seas etc., get heated up, and water evaporates in the air, forming water vapours.

Transpiration- Like evaporation, the plants and trees also lose water from them which goes to the atmosphere. This process is called transpiration.

Condensation- As the water evaporates, it starts to become cool because of the cold atmosphere in the air and because of this cooling down of water leads to the formation of clouds.

Precipitation- Because of the high movements of the wings, the clouds start to collide and then fall back to the earth’s surface in the form of rain. Sometimes they also fall back in the form of snow, hail, sleet etc., depending upon the temperature.

Runoff or Infiltration- After precipitation, the water either flows to the water bodies called runoff or is absorbed into the soil, called infiltration.

Causes of Water Pollution

There are many reasons for water pollution. Some of the reasons are directly affected by water pollution and some indirectly. Many factories and industries are dumping contaminated water, chemicals, and heavy metals into major waterways as a result of direct water pollution.

One more reason for water pollution is the use of modern techniques in farms. Farmers apply nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium in the form of chemical fertilizers, manure, and sludge. It causes farms to discharge large quantities of agrochemicals, organic matter, and saline drainage into water bodies. It indirectly affects water pollution.

Pollutants can be of various types such as organic, inorganic, radioactive etc. Water pollutants are discharged either from one point from pipes, channels etc., which are called point sources or from various other sources. They can be agricultural areas, industries etc., called dispersed sources.

Some of the major forms of water pollutants are as follows:

Sewage- Domestic sewage from homes contains various forms of pathogens that threaten the human body. Sewage treatment reduces the risk of pathogens, but this risk is not eliminated.

Domestic sewage majorly contains nitrates and phosphates, and excess of these substances allows the algae to grow on the surface of water bodies. Due to this, the clean water bodies become nutrient-rich water body and then slowly, the oxygen level of water bodies reduces. This is called eutrophication or cultural eutrophication (if this step rapidly takes place by the activities of humans). This leads to the early death of water bodies.

Toxins- The industrial or factory wastes that are not disposed of properly and contain chemicals such as mercury and lead are disposed of in the water bodies making the bodies toxic, radioactive, explosive and cancerous.

Sediments- Sediments are the result of soil erosion that is formed in the water bodies. These sediments imbalances the water bodies ecologically. They also interfere in the reproductive cycle of various aquatic animals living in the water.

Thermal pollution- Water bodies get polluted because of heat, and excess heat reduces the oxygen level of the water bodies. Some of the species of fish cannot live in such water bodies with very low oxygen levels. The disposal of cold waters from the power plants leads to increased thermal pollution in the water bodies.

Petroleum oil pollution- The runoff of oil into the water bodies, either accidentally as happened in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, or intentionally, leads to an increase in water pollution.

As water is an important element of human health, polluted water directly affects the human body. Water pollution causes various diseases like typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, cancer, etc. Water pollution damages the plants and aquatic animals present in the river by reducing the oxygen content from the water. Polluted water washes the essential nutrients which plants need out of the soil and also leaves large amounts of aluminium in the soil, which can be harmful to plants.

Wastewater and sewage are a by-product of daily life and thus produced by each household through various activities like using soap, toilets, and detergents. Such sewage contains chemicals and bacteria which are harmful to human life and environmental health. Water pollution also leads to an imbalance in our ecosystem. Lastly, it also affects the food chain as the toxins in the water bodies are consumed by aquatic animals like fish, crabs etc., and then humans consume those animals forming turmoil.

Sometimes our tradition also becomes a cause for water pollution. Some people throw the statues of deities, flowers, pots, and ashes in rivers.

There are various standards to define water quality standards. Water meant for swimming may not be clean enough for drinking, or water meant for bathing may not be good for cooking. Therefore, there are different water standards for defined:

Stream standards- Standards that define streams, lakes, oceans or seas based on their maximum use.

Effluent standards- Define the specific standards for the level of contaminants or effluents allowed during the final discharge of those into the water bodies.

Drinking water standards- Define the level of contamination allowed in water that will be supplied for drinking or cooking in the domestic areas.

Different countries regulate their water quality standards through different acts and amendments.

While many of the solutions for water pollution need to be applied on a broader macro-level for that individual, companies, and communities can have a significant and responsible impact on the water quality. Companies, factories have to dispose of leftover chemicals and containers properly as per the product instructions. Farmers also have to reduce the use of nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers, pesticides, and contamination of groundwater.

The Swachh Bharat Mission of the government had led to reduced groundwater contamination. Under the Namami Ganga program, the government has initiated several major projects to clean Ganga. Along with all these steps, conservation of water is the very basic and important step towards water conservation and should be followed globally, treatment of sewage before their disposal in the water bodies and using environment-friendly products that do not form toxins when dissolved in water. These are some small steps that have to be taken into consideration by every human being.

As we all know, “Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.” We have to save water. We must keep the water clean. If everyone will follow their responsibility against water to protect it from getting polluted then it will be easy to get clean and healthy drinking water. Clean water is a must for us and our kids' present, future, and healthy environment.

We cannot just live with contaminated waters filled with toxins and no oxygen. We cannot see our wildlife being destroyed and therefore, immediate steps have to be taken by groups of people to first clean the already contaminated water bodies and then keep a check on all the surrounding water bodies. Small steps by every individual can make a huge difference in controlling water pollution.

Water Pollution Prevention

Conserve Water

Our first priority should be to conserve water. Water wasting could be a big problem for the entire world, but we are just now becoming aware of it.

Sewage Treatment

Cleaning up waste materials before disposing of them in waterways reduces pollution on a large scale. By lowering its dangerous elements, this wastewater will be used in other sectors or in agriculture.

Usage of Eco-Friendly Materials

We will reduce the amount of pollution produced by choosing soluble products that do not alter to become pollutants.

Water contamination is the discharge of pollutants into the water body, where they dissolve, are suspended, are deposited on the bottom, and collect to the point where they hinder the aquatic ecosystem's ability to function. Water contamination is brought on by toxic compounds that easily dissolve and combine with it and come from factories, municipalities, and farms.

Healthy ecosystems depend on a complex network of organisms, including animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi, all of which interact with one another either directly or indirectly. In this article, we read about water pollution, its causes and prevention. With this, we have come to the end of our article, in case of any other doubts, feel free to ask in the comments.

FAQs on Water Pollution Essay

1. What are the effects of water pollution?

Water pollution has a great impact on human health. Water pollution kills. It's been recorded that in 2015 nearly 1.8 million people died because of water pollution. People with low income are exposed to contaminated water coming out from the industries. Presence of disease causing pathogens in drinking water are the major cause of illness which includes cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Water pollution not only affects human health but also our environment by causing algal bloom in a lake or marine environment. Water pollution also causes eutrophication which suffocates plants and animals and thus causes dead zones. Chemicals and heavy metals from industrial and municipal wastewater contaminate waterways and harm aquatic life.

2. What are the causes of Water pollution?

Water being a universal solvent is vulnerable to pollution as it dissolves more substances than any other liquid on earth. Therefore, water is easily polluted. Toxic substances from farms, towns, and factories readily dissolve into water and mix with it, resulting in water pollution. Agricultural pollution is one of the major causes of contamination in rivers and streams. The use of excessive fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms and livestock operations lets the rain wash the nutrients and pathogens—such as bacteria and viruses—into our waterways. The other major cause of water pollution is used water, termed as wastewater which comes from our sinks, showers, toilets and from commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities. It's been reported that the world's 80% wastewater flows back into the environment without being treated or reused. Oil spills and radioactive waste also cause water pollution to a great extent.

3. How to prevent water pollution?

It is important to keep our water bodies clean so we can take the following preventive measures to prevent from water pollution:

Chemicals like bleach, paint, paint thinner, ammonia, and many chemicals are becoming a serious problem. Dumping toxic chemicals down the drain or flushing them down the toilet can cause water pollution. Thus, proper disposal is important. Also, household chemicals need to be recycled.

Avoid buying products that contain persistent and dangerous chemicals. Buying non-toxic cleaners and biodegradable cleaners and pesticides cut down on water pollution.

Prevent from pouring fats or greasy substances down the drain as it might clog the drain resulting in the dumping of waste into yards or basement which can contaminate the local water bodies.

4. What is the role of medical institutions in polluting the water?

Pharmaceutical pollution affects aquatic life and thus there is a need to take preventive measures. Consumers are responsible for winding up pharmaceutical and personal care products in lakes, rivers, and streams. There's a lot of unused and expired medication that can potentially get into the water if not disposed of properly.

5. What are the major kinds of pollution?

The three main types of pollution are air pollution, water pollution or soil pollution. Some artificial pollution is also there, such as noise pollution. Factors leading to such pollution include:

Air Pollution: Industrial emissions, fires, traffic and transportation, burning of chemical waste, etc.

Water Pollution: No proper sewage disposal, pesticides in farms leaking into water bodies, industrial waste dumped into water bodies, etc.

Soil Pollution: Oil spills, acid rains, irresponsible disposal of trash, chemical waste, etc.

Noise Pollution: Honking of horns, construction activities, loud parties, etc.

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Essay On Water

Water is a tasteless and odorless substance which constitutes about 71 percent of the earth’s surface. All living organisms depend on water for their survival. It consists of two molecules of hydrogen atom and one molecule of oxygen. The boiling point for water is 100 degrees and melting point is 0 degrees. Water can change into different forms of matter such as ice when cooled and vapour when heated. It is also called the universal solvent. Water is used for drinking, washing and agricultural purposes. Most of the water goes into drinking and irrigation practices. There are many water resources such as ocean, river, lake, pond, etc on the earth.

The physical properties of water are that it is odourless, tasteless and transparent liquid. There is no particular shape of the water as it can take the form of any vessel or container. The plants and animals need water to survive. Plants use water for photosynthesis whereas animals drink water from the reservoir such as rivers or lakes. Apart from drinking, humans use water for industrial and agricultural purposes. Human life exists where there is water. It is not possible for living organisms to live without water. In this essay on water, we will discuss its significance and conservation practices.

Significance Of Water

We find abundant water resources on the earth. However, some amount of water is useful for drinking and the rest is unfit for use. It is possible for living organisms to live without food but not water. They need water to function properly. Due to disposal of wastes in the reservoirs, the water is getting polluted. It results in water borne diseases and other chronic health issues. Most importantly, water is used for daily household work such as cleaning utensils, washing clothes, bathing, cooking, watering plants, etc. Apart from this, there is huge demand for water for irrigation and other agricultural purposes. Some of the uses of water are mentioned below:

Agricultural purposes: Water is the most important resource in agriculture. It is used for the growth of crops. Due to good water supply, there will be an increase in the yield. This will undoubtedly improve the productivity of food grains. Farmers are dependent on water for irrigation and agricultural practices. This is the main source of livelihood for the farmers. Besides this, water is used for gardening and fisheries.
Industrial purposes: Many industries are being established to produce goods. This production of goods requires large amounts of water. It is used for manufacture and production. It is also used for cleaning, processing and cooling of goods in the industries. Due to this, there is an increase in the employment of people as well as economic growth.
Household purposes: Water is used for household activities such as washing and cleaning. All people are dependent on water for their survival. People use water to plant trees, wash utensils, drink water, bathing, cooking, washing clothes, etc.
Plants: Water is useful for growth of the plants. It helps in photosynthesis. Therefore, it is an important source for the plants.
Animals: Apart from humans, animals are also dependent on water for their survival. They drink from nearby water resources such as rivers or lakes.
Thermal purposes : Water is used for generating electricity. This provides employment to the people as well as electricity for all the houses.
Mining purposes: Water is used for the extraction of minerals. These are used in the industries for economic growth.
Recreation purposes: Water is used for recreational purposes such as swimming, surfing, boating, water parks, etc.
Commercial purposes: Water is used for various other commercial purposes such as car washing, construction of buildings, fire extinguishers, etc.

Also read: Along with water, food is one of the basic necessities, so read food essay and water pollution essay .

Conservation Of Water

We all know that water is used in day to day life. How much water is used on a daily basis? We consume and use water for many activities. Though the earth is covered with water, all are not useful for drinking purposes. The rest of the water is from the ocean which is salty. Therefore, it is important to conserve the fresh water resources that are available for drinking water. Due to anthropogenic activities, the water is getting polluted drastically. The water resources are getting contaminated with industrial and other commercial wastes. In recent times, we are experiencing a shortage of water.

Due to urbanization, there is growing demand for water in production and manufacturing units. In this regard, water has to be used sustainably keeping the future generation in mind. If the water is not used wisely, then there might be a shortage of clean water in the future. As a result of this, there can be reduction of agricultural yields, health issues and other developmental problems. Therefore, it is important to conserve water and use it wisely. Some of the ways to conserve water are mentioned below:

Turn off the tap if not in use.
Fix the leakage of the tubes in order to save the water.
Monitor the use of water on a daily basis.
Use a single bucket of water for bathing.
Reuse the water for gardening.
Turn off the tap while brushing teeth.
Create awareness on saving water among people.
Check for the leakage of water in the house and garden area.
Promote water harvesting in communities.
Conduct capacity building programs to save water.
Do not waste water while drinking.
Use the required amount of water for household purposes.
Use an energy efficient machine to wash clothes and dishes in order to save water.
Take shower for less time.
Avoid wastage of running water.
Participate in water conservation programs.

Water is the most important substance made up of hydrogen and oxygen. It is basically a transparent, odorless and tasteless fluid. Water constitutes about 71 percent of the earth’s surface. It is used for drinking, irrigation, agriculture and other industrial purposes.

We hope this essay on water was useful to you. Check essays for kids to explore more topics.

Frequently Asked Questions On Essay On Water

What is an essay on water.

It is a short write up on water which is a tasteless and transparent liquid. It is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen molecule.

What are the uses of water?

Water is used for agriculture, industrial, thermal, irrigation, household, mining and other commercial purposes.

What are the ways to conserve water?

Water can be conserved by using them sustainably, fixing the leakage of taps, monitoring the supply of water, etc.

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Diet & Nutrition

8 Ways to Stay Hydrated if You Hate Drinking Water

F or all the hype surrounding status water bottles —looking at you, Stanley and Owala—it turns out many of us aren’t drinking nearly enough H2O. “It’s a struggle,” says Vanessa King, a registered dietitian nutritionist with Queen’s Health System in Oahu, Hawaii. “We see thousands of people a month, and drinking enough water comes up all the time.”

Exactly how much you need to drink every day depends on a variety of factors, including your age, activity level, how much you sweat, and your health status, as well as which medications you take (some can cause dehydration) and your location (hot places call for more water). One rule of thumb, King says, is to drink half your weight in water (in ounces) every day. For example, if you weigh 140 pounds, your target would be 70 ounces—or at least eight 8-ounce glasses—per day. To zero in on a more specific number, she advises talking to your doctor or a registered dietitian.

If you’re not getting enough water, you’ll be able to tell: Your mouth might get dry, King says, and your pee will become darker than normal. You might get a headache or feel dizzy. Plus, you’ll feel thirsty. People who are truly dehydrated—which is common among older adults—can experience altered mental status, hypotension, kidney failure, and other complications that may require hospitalization.

Being well-hydrated, on the other hand, is linked to improved mood and cognition , as well as optimal physical performance . It can aid weight loss , alleviate constipation , and even make your skin look healthier . If you're drinking the right amount of water, “there’s only positives,” says Maya Feller, a registered dietitian nutritionist based in Brooklyn and author of Eating from Our Roots: 80+ Healthy Home-Cooked Favorites from Cultures Around the World . “There’s just so many benefits.”

But realistically, how do you glug all that water (especially if it's far from your favorite beverage)? We asked experts to share how they manage to drink enough every day.

Add one glass per week

Lots of people avoid drinking water because they don’t want to have to make frequent beelines to the bathroom during the workday. Easing into it, however, can teach your body to tolerate a new level of water intake. “I encourage people to have that first glass as close to waking up as possible, because if they’re going to go to the bathroom, it’s going to happen at home and not on their commute or when they get to the office,” Feller says. After a week, add in an extra glass when you get home from work, which will allow your body to adjust to two additional glasses per day. Then, in week three, add an additional glass at any point during the day. “Keep going until you get to your desired amount,” Feller says, giving your body a week to adjust to each new glass of water.

Schedule nudges throughout the day

If you routinely forget to drink enough water, consider enlisting technological assistance. “Phone reminders are a very cool thing,” says Melanie Betz, a registered dietitian in Chicago who specializes in renal and geriatric nutrition. Lots of apps offer the ability to schedule hydration nudges throughout the day.

Read More : What Experts Really Think About Diet Soda

For people who want a fancy, high-tech solution, Betz sometimes recommends a HidrateSpark “smart” water bottle , which tracks how much you drink—and starts glowing when you haven’t had enough. It can also send reminders to your phone when you haven’t had any water in a certain amount of time. Or, of course, you can keep things simple and set alarms for, say, 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., and 6 p.m., she says. That way, your smartwatch will vibrate or your phone will ding when it’s time to drink.

Start a water log

Any time you’re trying to make a lifestyle change, it helps to have a specific goal, Betz points out. Pledging to drink 100 ounces of water a day, for example, is more effective than thinking, “I’ll start drinking more water,” she says. It can be hard to keep track of your intake throughout the day, so consider starting a Notes app memo where you list how much you drank, and at what time. That will help reveal patterns and let you know where you could make changes, she says; you might notice you don’t drink much in the morning, for instance. And remember, It takes time to develop a new habit. “Give yourself some grace,” Betz says—you’re not going to jump from 16 ounces to 64 overnight.

Add herbs to your water or ice cubes

If you find water boring—and let’s be real, it can be—experiment with fun ways to jazz it up. King likes adding “flavor enhancers” such as slices of lemon and lime and chunks of pineapple. “It becomes very tropical,” she says. Or prepare a glass of cucumber water: Drop sliced cucumbers into your water, along with some ginger and mint. “It looks pretty and makes it more inviting,” King says. “Plus it’s something your friends can get on board with when they come over and drink water.”

Read More : Your Brain Doesn't Want You to Exercise

Betz enjoys testing out different herbs. One of her favorite concoctions is water infused with watermelon and basil, which she finds much more interesting than plain. Blackberry and rosemary also work well, she says, and feel fancy.

Speaking of elevated options: Feller suggests treating yourself to herb-filled ice cubes. Choose a couple of your favorites, like basil and mint, and then mash them up or mince them before adding them to an ice-cube tray. Pour water on top, freeze, and enjoy. “It’s so good, and it makes the drink pretty,” she says.

Ditch the colorful water bottles

Invest in a clear water bottle, and always carry it with you, King suggests. “A lot of people who carry water bottles carry them home full,” she says. “A clear one lets you see how you’re doing.” If a completely full bottle is in your face all day, after all, you’ll probably get the hint that it’s time to take a sip.

Another way to increase visibility, King says, is to put a glass of water on your bedside table. That way, you can make drinking water first thing in the morning a habit. It’s also helpful to keep pitchers of water on your kitchen counter and in other high-traffic areas.

Play with temperature

Feller works with people around the globe, and many don’t drink ice-cold water—they consider it “an American thing.” Regardless of where you live, you might find you prefer a different temperature, too. Leave your water out so it’s room temp, add some ice, or even boil it like you would tea, Feller advises. As you experiment with different temperatures, “you’ll find that it becomes a bit easier to drink once you know what temperature you prefer,” she says.

Pretend you’re a plant

The app Plant Nanny makes drinking fun, says King, who’s recommended it to her patients. Once you download it, you’ll become responsible for virtual plants; each time you log that you’ve had a glass of water, your plants will be watered, too. “When I first tested it out, I turned it on and my plant was wilted,” King recalls. “And it was super cute. I was immediately emotionally attached to it—you forget it’s not a real plant.” That made her want to meet her daily hydration goals, she says, noting that the app is a good fit for parents helping their kids understand the importance of staying well-hydrated.

Read More : Your Houseplants Have Some Powerful Health Benefits

Expand your definition of “water”

Chugging glassfuls of water isn’t the only way to hydrate. Dairy and dairy alternatives, like almond milk and soy milk, also contain water, King points out; in fact, it's the first ingredient listed on labels.

And don’t overlook the role that fruits, vegetables, broths, soups, and stews can play in your daily hydration goals. Some of the most water-heavy choices include melons like cantaloupe and watermelon; berries such as strawberries; and leafy greens like spinach, cucumbers, and zucchini, King says. Other smart choices include bananas, pears, oranges, pineapples, carrots, broccoli, and avocados. “A good dose of fruits and vegetables in your day can also help with meeting your water target,” she says. So if you absolutely can’t stand the thought of one more glass of water, consider consuming it a tastier way instead.

The Happiness Gap Between Left and Right Isn’t Closing

A woman’s face with red lipstick and red-and-white stripes on one side in imitation of an American flag.

By Thomas B. Edsall

Mr. Edsall contributes a weekly column from Washington, D.C., on politics, demographics and inequality.

Why is it that a substantial body of social science research finds that conservatives are happier than liberals?

A partial answer: Those on the right are less likely to be angered or upset by social and economic inequities, believing that the system rewards those who work hard, that hierarchies are part of the natural order of things and that market outcomes are fundamentally fair.

Those on the left stand in opposition to each of these assessments of the social order, prompting frustration and discontent with the world around them.

The happiness gap has been with us for at least 50 years, and most research seeking to explain it has focused on conservatives. More recently, however, psychologists and other social scientists have begun to dig deeper into the underpinnings of liberal discontent — not only unhappiness but also depression and other measures of dissatisfaction.

One of the findings emerging from this research is that the decline in happiness and in a sense of agency is concentrated among those on the left who stress matters of identity, social justice and the oppression of marginalized groups.

There is, in addition, a parallel phenomenon taking place on the right as Donald Trump and his MAGA loyalists angrily complain of oppression by liberals who engage in a relentless vendetta to keep Trump out of the White House.

There is a difference in the way the left and right react to frustration and grievance. Instead of despair, the contemporary right has responded with mounting anger, rejecting democratic institutions and norms.

In a 2021 Vox article, “ Trump and the Republican Revolt Against Democracy ,” Zack Beauchamp described in detail the emergence of destructive and aggressive discontent among conservatives.

Citing a wide range of polling data and academic studies, Beauchamp found:

More than twice as many Republicans (39 percent) as Democrats (17 percent) believed that “if elected leaders won’t protect America, the people must act — even if that means violence.”

Fifty-seven percent of Republicans considered Democrats to be “enemies,” compared with 41 percent of Democrats who viewed Republicans as “enemies.”

Among Republicans, support for “the use of force to defend our way of life,” as well as for the belief that “strong leaders bend rules” and that “sometimes you have to take the law in your own hands,” grows stronger in direct correlation with racial and ethnic hostility.

Trump has repeatedly warned of the potential for political violence. In January he predicted bedlam if the criminal charges filed in federal and state courts against him damaged his presidential campaign:

I think they feel this is the way they’re going to try and win, and that’s not the way it goes. It’ll be bedlam in the country. It’s a very bad thing. It’s a very bad precedent. As we said, it’s the opening of a Pandora’s box.

Before he was indicted in New York, Trump claimed there would be “potential death and destruction” if he was charged.

At an Ohio campaign rally in March, Trump declared, “If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a blood bath for the whole country.”

In other words, Trump and his allies respond to adversity and what they see as attacks from the left with threats and anger, while a segment of the left often but not always responds to adversity and social inequity with dejection and sorrow.

There are significant consequences for this internalization.

Jamin Halberstadt , a professor of psychology at the University of Otago in New Zealand and a co-author of “ Outgroup Threat and the Emergence of Cohesive Groups : A Cross-Cultural Examination,” argued in his emailed reply to my inquiry that because “a focus on injustice and victimhood is, by definition, disempowering (isn’t that why we talk of ‘survivors’ rather than ‘victims’?), loss of control is not good for self-esteem or happiness.”

But, he pointed out:

this focus, while no doubt a part of the most visible and influential side of progressive ideology, is still just a part. Liberalism is a big construct, and I’m reluctant to reduce it to a focus on social justice issues. Some liberals have this view, but I suspect their influence is outsized because (a) they have the social media megaphone and (b) we are in a climate in which freedom of expression and, in particular, challenges to the worldview you characterize have been curtailed.

Expanding on this line of argument, Halberstadt wrote:

I’m sure some self-described liberals have views that are counterproductive to their own happiness. One sub-ideology associated with liberalism is, as you describe, a sense of victimhood and grievance. But there is more than one way to respond to structural barriers. Within that group of the aggrieved, some probably see systemic problems that cannot be overcome, and that’s naturally demoralizing and depressing. But others see systemic problems as a challenge to overcome.

Taking Halberstadt’s assessment of the effects of grievance and victimhood a step farther, Timothy A. Judge , the chairman of the department of management and human resources at Notre Dame, wrote in a 2009 paper, “ Core Self-Evaluations and Work Success ”:

Core self-evaluations (C.S.E.) is a broad, integrative trait indicated by self-esteem, locus of control, generalized self-efficacy and (low) neuroticism (high emotional stability). Individuals with high levels of C.S.E. perform better on their jobs, are more successful in their careers, are more satisfied with their jobs and lives, report lower levels of stress and conflict, cope more effectively with setbacks and better capitalize on advantages and opportunities.

I asked Judge and other scholars a question: Have liberal pessimists fostered an outlook that spawns unhappiness as its adherents believe they face seemingly insurmountable structural barriers?

Judge replied by email:

I do share the perspective that a focus on status, hierarchies and institutions that reinforce privilege contributes to an external locus of control. And the reason is fairly straightforward. We can only change these things through collective and, often, policy initiatives — which tend to be complex, slow, often conflictual and outside our individual control. On the other hand, if I view “life’s chances” (Virginia Woolf’s term) to be mostly dependent on my own agency, this reflects an internal focus, which will often depend on enacting initiatives largely within my control.

Judge elaborated on his argument:

If our predominant focus in how we view the world is social inequities, status hierarchies, societal unfairness conferred by privilege, then everyone would agree that these things are not easy to fix, which means, in a sense, we must accept some unhappy premises: Life isn’t fair; outcomes are outside my control, often at the hands of bad, powerful actors; social change depends on collective action that may be conflictual; an individual may have limited power to control their own destiny, etc. These are not happy thoughts because they cause me to view the world as inherently unfair, oppressive, conflictual, etc. It may or may not be right, but I would argue that these are in fact viewpoints of how we view the world, and our place in it, that would undermine our happiness.

Last year, George Yancey , a professor of sociology at Baylor University, published “ Identity Politics, Political Ideology, and Well-Being : Is Identity Politics Good for Our Well-Being?”

Yancey argued that recent events “suggest that identity politics may correlate to a decrease in well-being, particularly among young progressives, and offer an explanation tied to internal elements within political progressiveness.”

By focusing on “political progressives, rather than political conservatives,” Yancey wrote, “a nuanced approach to understanding the relationship between political ideology and well-being begins to emerge.”

Identity politics, he continued, focuses “on external institutional forces that one cannot immediately alleviate.” It results in what scholars call the externalization of one’s locus of control, or viewing the inequities of society as a result of powerful if not insurmountable outside forces, including structural racism, patriarchy and capitalism, as opposed to believing that individuals can overcome such obstacles through hard work and collective effort.

As a result, Yancey wrote, “identity politics may be an important mechanism by which progressive political ideology can lead to lower levels of well-being.”

Conversely, Yancey pointed out, “a class-based progressive cognitive emphasis may focus less on the group identity, generating less of a need to rely on emotional narratives and dichotomous thinking and may be less likely to be detrimental to the well-being of a political progressive.”

Yancey tested this theory using data collected in the 2021 Baylor Religion Survey of 1,232 respondents.

“Certain types of political progressive ideology can have contrasting effects on well-being,” Yancey wrote. “It is plausible that identity politics may explain the recent increase well-being gap between conservatives and progressives.”

Oskari Lahtinen , a senior researcher in psychology at the University of Turku in Finland, published a study in March, “ Construction and Validation of a Scale for Assessing Critical Social Justice Attitudes ,” that reinforces Yancey’s argument.

Lahtinen conducted two surveys of a total of 5,878 men and women to determine the share of Finnish citizens who held “critical social justice attitudes” and how those who held such views differed from those who did not.

Critical social justice proponents, on Lahtinen’s scale,

point out varieties of oppression that cause privileged people (e.g., male, white, heterosexual, cisgender) to benefit over marginalized people (e.g., woman, Black, gay, transgender). In critical race theory, some of the core tenets include that (1) white supremacy and racism are omnipresent and colorblind policies are not enough to tackle them, (2) people of color have their own unique standpoint and (3) races are social constructs.

What did Lahtinen find?

The critical social justice propositions encountered

strong rejection from men. Women expressed more than twice as much support for the propositions. In both studies, critical social justice was correlated modestly with depression, anxiety, and (lack of) happiness, but not more so than being on the political left was.

In an email responding to my inquiries about his paper, Lahtinen wrote that one of the key findings in his research was that “there were large differences between genders in critical social justice advocacy: Three out of five women but only one out of seven men expressed support for the critical social justice claims.”

In addition, he pointed out, “there was one variable in the study that closely corresponded to external locus of control: ‘Other people or structures are more responsible for my well-being than I myself am.’”

The correlation between agreement with this statement and unhappiness was among the strongest in the survey:

People on the left endorsed this item (around 2 on a scale of 0 to 4) far more than people on the right (around 0.5). Endorsing the belief was determined by political party preference much more than by gender, for instance.

Such measures as locus of control, self-esteem, a belief in personal agency and optimism all play major roles in daily life.

In a December 2022 paper, “ The Politics of Depression : Diverging Trends in Internalizing Symptoms Among U.S. Adolescents by Political Beliefs,” Catherine Gimbrone , Lisa M. Bates , Seth Prins and Katherine M. Keyes , all at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, noted that “trends in adolescent internalizing symptoms diverged by political beliefs, sex and parental education over time, with female liberal adolescents experiencing the largest increases in depressive symptoms, especially in the context of demographic risk factors, including parental education.”

“These findings,” they added, “indicate a growing mental health disparity between adolescents who identify with certain political beliefs. It is therefore possible that the ideological lenses through which adolescents view the political climate differentially affect their mental well-being.”

Gimbrone and her co-authors based their work on studies of 85,000 teenagers from 2005 to 2018. They found that

while internalizing symptom scores worsened over time for all adolescents, they deteriorated most quickly for female liberal adolescents. Beginning in approximately 2010 and continuing through 2018, female liberal adolescents reported the largest changes in depressive affect, self-esteem, self-derogation and loneliness.

In conclusion, the authors wrote, “socially underprivileged liberals reported the worst internalizing symptom scores over time, likely indicating that the experiences and beliefs that inform a liberal political identity are ultimately less protective against poor mental health than those that inform a conservative political identity.”

From another vantage point, Nick Haslam , a professor of psychology at the University of Melbourne, argued in his 2020 paper “ Harm Inflation: Making Sense of Concept Creep ” that recent years have seen “a rising sensitivity to harm within at least some Western cultures, such that previously innocuous or unremarked phenomena were increasingly identified as harmful and that this rising sensitivity reflected a politically liberal moral agenda.”

As examples, Haslam wrote that the definition of “trauma” has been

progressively broadened to include adverse life events of decreasing severity and those experienced vicariously rather than directly. “Mental disorder” came to include a wider range of conditions, so that new forms of psychopathology were added in each revision of diagnostic manuals and the threshold for diagnosing some existing forms was lowered. “Abuse” extended from physical acts to verbal and emotional slights and incorporated forms of passive neglect in addition to active aggression.

Haslam described this process as concept creep and argued that “some examples of concept creep are surely the work of deliberate actors who might be called expansion entrepreneurs.”

Concept expansion, Haslam wrote, “can be used as a tactic to amplify the perceived seriousness of a movement’s chosen social problem.” In addition, “such expansion can be effective means of enhancing the perceived seriousness of a social problem or threat by increasing the perceived prevalence of both ‘victims’ and ‘perpetrators.’”

Haslam cited studies showing that strong “correlates of holding expansive concepts of harm were compassion-related trait values, left-liberal political attitudes and forms of morality associated with both.” Holding expansive concepts of harm was also “associated with affective and cognitive empathy orientation and most strongly of all with endorsement of harm- and fairness-based morality.” Many of these characteristics are associated with the political left.

“The expansion of harm-related concepts has implications for acceptable self-expression and free speech,” Haslam wrote. “Creeping concepts enlarge the range of expressions judged to be unacceptably harmful, thereby increasing calls for speech restrictions. Expansion of the harm-related concepts of hate and hate speech exemplifies this possibility.”

While much of the commentary on the progressive left has been critical, Haslam takes a more ambivalent position: “Sometimes concept creep is presented in an exclusively negative frame,” he wrote, but that fails to address the “positive implications. To that end, we offer three positive consequences of the phenomenon.”

The first is that expansionary definitions of harm “can be useful in drawing attention to harms previously overlooked. Consider the vertical expansion of abuse to include emotional abuse.”

Second, “concept creep can prevent harmful practices by modifying social norms.” For example, “changing definitions of bullying that include social exclusion and antagonistic acts expressed horizontally rather than only downward in organizational hierarchies may also entrench norms against the commission of destructive behavior.”

And finally:

The expansion of psychology’s negative concepts can motivate interventions aimed at preventing or reducing the harms associated with the newly categorized behaviors. For instance, the conceptual expansion of addiction to include behavioral addictions (e.g., gambling and internet addictions) has prompted a flurry of research into treatment options, which has found that a range of psychosocial treatments can be successfully used to treat gambling, internet and sexual addictions.

Judge suggested an approach to this line of inquiry that he believed might offer a way for liberalism to regain its footing:

I would like to think that there is a version of modern progressivism that accepts many of the premises of the problem and causes of inequality but does so in a way that also celebrates the power of individualism, of consensus and of common cause. I know this is perhaps naïve. But if we give in to cynicism (that consensus can’t be found), that’s self-reinforcing, isn’t it? I think about the progress on how society now views sexual orientation and the success stories. The change was too slow, painful for many, but was there any other way?

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here's our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Thomas B. Edsall has been a contributor to the Times Opinion section since 2011. His column on strategic and demographic trends in American politics appears every Wednesday. He previously covered politics for The Washington Post. @ edsall

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Essay on Water for Students and Children
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Water
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Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula H 2 O.It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, and it is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a solvent).It is vital for all known forms of life, despite not providing food energy or organic micronutrients.
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There are various sources of water. About 97% of the water on the Earth's surface is covered with water. The three main sources of water are: Rainwater. Groundwater - This includes water bodies like Wells and Springs. Surface water - This includes different water bodies like Reservoirs, Rivers, Streams, Ponds, Lakes and Tanks.
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Water is polar. Water molecules are polar, with partial positive charges on the hydrogens, a partial negative charge on the oxygen, and a bent overall structure. This is because oxygen is more electronegative, meaning that it is better than hydrogen at attracting electrons. Water is an excellent solvent.
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Water scarcity is a growing concern worldwide. Unsustainable and ever-growing demands on our freshwater resources have taxed aquifers and surface waters in many places, harming ecosystems and threatening future economic growth. A regional water crisis, often triggered by drought, can result in famine, forced migration, and other humanitarian ...
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