EigoPro 2級 読解 — Why Water Matters

Why Water Matters Water is so much a part of everyday life that it is easy to take it for granted. We turn on a tap and it appears; we use it to drink, wash, cook, and clean without a second thought. Yet clean, safe water is one of the most precious resources on Earth, and for a large part of the world's population, getting enough of it is a daily struggle. The reason water is so vital is simple: no living thing can survive without it. Our own bodies are about sixty percent water, and we can live only a few days without drinking. Water also grows the food we eat, since farms need enormous amounts of it for their crops and animals. Beyond the home and the farm, water powers factories and produces much of the world's electricity. In short, modern life of every kind depends on a steady supply. Although the Earth looks blue from space, useful fresh water is surprisingly scarce. Most of the planet's water is salty seawater, which we cannot drink or use on crops without expensive treatment. Of the small amount that is fresh, much is frozen or deep underground. To make matters worse, a growing population, wasteful habits, pollution, and a changing climate are all putting the limited supply under greater pressure than ever before. The encouraging news is that we are not powerless. Simple steps at home, such as fixing leaks and not leaving taps running, save surprising amounts. Farmers can use clever methods that grow more food with less water, and cities can clean and reuse water rather than throwing it away. Treating water as the precious resource it truly is, experts say, is one of the most important challenges of the century ahead.

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