Where does our household water come from?

Of course, the easy answer is all water starts off falling from the sky. Although, since precipitation is part of the water cycle, you could also say water doesn’t start or end at anyplace, but goes around in a big cycle.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) compiles national water-use information every 5 years, with the last compilation being for 2005. As far as where all the water that we use in our homes comes from, it is from either a groundwater source, such as a well, or from a surface-water source, such a river, lake, or reservoir. In the U.S. in 2005, about 258 million of the 301 million people in the United States got their home water delivered by a public supplier, such as the county water department. At other homes, mainly is more rural areas, people provide water for themselves from sources such as a well, a cistern, a pond, or a stream. Largely groundwater wells provide water for these users, with almost 98% of water coming from wells. Read more

What is water dowsing?

“Water dowsing” refers in general to the practice of using a forked stick, rod, pendulum, or similar device to locate underground water, minerals, or other hidden or lost substances,and has been a subject of discussion and controversy for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

Although tools and methods vary widely, most dowsers (also called diviners or water witches) probably still use the traditional forked stick, which may come from a variety of trees, including the willow, peach, and witchhazel. Other dowsers may use keys, wire coathangers, pliers, wire rods, pendulums, or various kinds of elaborate boxes and electrical instruments. Read more

Water security has always been an issue in the arid environment that characterizes most of the Middle East. Not until recently, however, has it been so serious. Although the Nile, Euphrates, Tigris and Jordan Rivers provide substantial agricultural, industrial and commercial support, the longevity of this scarce resource is being tested daily.

The rich landscape that was once referred to as the Fertile Crescent and the “breadbasket of the Roman Empire” is experiencing a variety of effects brought on by development and modernization. It is unclear what the future has in store, but what is certain, is that the politics of water is a turbulent issue that needs attention and support. Read more

Today is World Water Day. This year’s theme is “Water for Cities.” Yes, you can still attend all manner of walks, photo contests, screenings, and other events supporting global access to clean water. We’ve highlighted some noble projects for delivering drinking water in the past, but today we bring you you news of a new technology designed especially for disasters.

The HTI HydroPack is like an empty Capri Sun pouch with powdered nutrients inside. But it’s really a filter you can drop in any water source—a swimming pool, a mud puddle, a contaminated aquifer—and eight to twelve hours later the pack has filled itself with potable, fortified water. Read more

The Earth is one of those extremely rare, special places in the Universe where water can exist, stably, as a liquid. So much of it exists here on Earth, that if you were to add up all the oceans on Earth together, it would weigh more than 10^18 tonnes, more massive than the biggest asteroid ever, and about as massive as Pluto’s giant moon, Charon.

But water only has a very small window in which it can be a liquid. For instance, if you took some warm water up to a very high elevation, it would start to boil, and become a gas! The higher up you took it, the lower and lower your boiling point would be. Read more