The Mystery of Water
Many people regard water as a bland and boring drink, existing in
such abundance as it does without causing a fuss; it’s always there, quite
literally, ‘on tap’. So water is tasteless, and we enhance it by adding
artificial flavours and sugars, mixing it with coffee or tea, or turning it
into beer – great with pizza! We even see water as ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ and
change it with machines like water
softeners. It is the ultimate irony that this abundant fluid is seen as bland.
We see things like water as neither rare nor precious, but generic and
unimportant.
But think about
water for second – or perhaps a bit longer. Contemplate what it is and you’ll
find answers to the mystery of life. The human body, for instance, is comprised
of roughly 65% water, and we can dehydrate quickly and easily. Without water,
there can be no life on Earth, and evolution would not have occurred without
this special substance.
The Composition of Water
Arguably the
most famous chemical formula on earth is H20.
This translates into two hydrogen molecules and one of oxygen. The essence of
water is truly molecular. But look at where these molecules originate from and
you’ll find that water is not bland and boring, but can be traced back to
cataclysmic events that shaped the universe. Hydrogen, for example, is the
primary fuel of stars.
Water is also
extremely flexible. It can exist in three forms: a solid, a liquid and a gas – or, you could
argue, in strong to weak states. The Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, once said, ‘in the world there is nothing more submissive and
weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can
surpass it’. How relaxing is a warm bath, yet how destructive is violent
tsunami?
We need water
Needless to say, we should
respect water, and to do so would be to respect our very humanity. There are far
too many contaminants, pollutants and chemicals that ravage our water supplies
in urban environments. The EPA, for example, sets out rigorous standards for
water safety, but these are all too frequently ignored.
The next time you grab a glass
and fill it with water, don’t see it as bland and boring; see it as a wonder of
the universe, or a wonder of earth and life. Let’s drink to life. Cheers!
Further resources about water
can be found here:
Post provided by guest blogger: Paul Gardner
My thanks to Paul for sharing his thoughts on AskAquaPro.com
AP
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