You have probably heard about the need to preserve water, but perhaps no one has ever really explained why it is important or what practical benefits you stand to gain from it. It is much easier to motivate yourself to do something and then carry it through when you understand the reasons behind it. Some of these reasons may seem obvious, others you may never have thought of, but all are important.

Food

By itself, water contains no nutrients. However, water is needed to grow and prepare foods from around the world. Plants need water to grow, aquatic animals need water in which to live, and many recipes require water to prepare the food properly. Without a reliable supply of fresh water, human beings would have fewer sources of food and fewer options for preparing what little food they had.

Hydration

While water doesn't provide sustenance and nutrition, it is still necessary for all human beings to drink water in adequate amounts every day. Water is essential in a number of vital processes inside the body, such as oxygen circulation and waste excretion. Without water, the human body dies within a few days, whereas it can survive for about a month without food. Even before succumbing, dehydration can cause severe illness.

Don't suppose that you can drink things other than water to stay hydrated. Water is necessary to produce the other beverages that you enjoy.

Wildlife

It is not only human beings who rely on water but wildlife as well. Most animals drink water, but some also rely on it in other ways. Birds remove parasites by bathing in shallow water, and muddy water provides valuable salts and minerals to butterflies. Aquatic animals live in or near the water. Amphibians need water in which to breed and raise their young. Bald eagles require large areas of open water in which to catch fish on which to feed.

Hygiene

Human beings need water with which to keep themselves and their surroundings clean. This helps to prevent diseases by killing and removing pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, from the environment so that they cannot cause infection. It also helps to prevent people and their surroundings from smelling bad, which makes it easier to be around people.

Energy Savings

While you stand to benefit from staying clean, hydrated, and well fed, there are other ways that conserving water can benefit you specifically. Household water is possible because of electrical pumping equipment. Pumping water into your home can be one of the most significant demands on your energy. The less water you use, the less electricity you use and the less money you spend.

Household Savings

If you live in an urban or suburban area, you probably receive your household water from a municipal system. You have to pay for the privilege of using city water, and it doesn't come cheap. The city water department typically charges you by the gallon. An older toilet uses five to seven gallons for a single toilet flush, and even now that toilets only use 1.6 gallons per flush, that can add up quickly if everyone in your family uses the toilet an average of four to 10 times per day. A 10-minute shower may use more than 15 gallons of water.

Less than one percent of the world's water supply is freshwater that is usable. Most of the freshwater in the world is frozen in the polar ice caps, while 97.5% of the water on Earth is saltwater, unsuitable for many of the tasks described here. Conserving water is not only good for you, it is good for everyone on the planet.