# Water Systems Part of the Sustainability Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/index.md) *2. Water Conservation* > **2b.** Explain why water is necessary in our lives. Create a diagram to show how your household gets its clean water from a natural source and what happens with the water after you use it. Tell two ways to preserve your community's access to clean water in the future. ## Why Water Is Essential Water is the most important substance on Earth for living things. Your body is about 60% water, and every cell depends on it to function. Here is why water is so critical: - **Drinking and hydration** — Your body needs about 8 cups of water a day to stay healthy. Without water, a person can survive only about three days. - **Food production** — It takes about 1,800 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef and 100 gallons for one pound of wheat. Every meal you eat depends on water. - **Sanitation and hygiene** — Clean water prevents the spread of diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery. Handwashing alone saves thousands of lives every year. - **Ecosystems** — Rivers, lakes, and wetlands support fish, birds, plants, and countless other species. These ecosystems also filter pollution and control flooding naturally. - **Industry and energy** — Factories use water for cooling, cleaning, and manufacturing. Power plants use water to generate steam and electricity. > **Did You Know?** > > Only about 3% of Earth's water is freshwater, and most of that is locked in glaciers and ice caps. Less than 1% of all water on Earth is available for humans to use. That tiny fraction supports all of civilization. ## Your Water's Journey: Source to Drain To create your diagram, you need to understand two systems: how water gets to your home and where it goes after you use it. ### From Nature to Your Faucet Most communities get their water from one of two sources: **Surface water** — Rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. A dam or intake structure captures the water and sends it to a treatment plant. **Groundwater** — Underground aquifers accessed through wells. A pump brings the water to the surface. At the **water treatment plant**, the water goes through several steps: 1. **Coagulation and flocculation** — Chemicals cause dirt and particles to clump together 2. **Sedimentation** — Heavy clumps settle to the bottom 3. **Filtration** — Water passes through sand, gravel, and charcoal filters 4. **Disinfection** — Chlorine or UV light kills bacteria and viruses The treated water then flows through underground pipes (water mains) to your home. ### From Your Drain to Nature After you flush, shower, or wash dishes, the used water (called **wastewater**) flows through sewer pipes to a **wastewater treatment plant**. There, it goes through a similar process: 1. **Screening** — Large debris is removed 2. **Primary treatment** — Solids settle out in large tanks 3. **Secondary treatment** — Bacteria break down organic matter 4. **Disinfection** — Remaining pathogens are killed 5. **Discharge** — The cleaned water is released back into a river, lake, or ocean Some homes use **septic systems** instead of connecting to a public sewer. A septic tank breaks down waste on-site, and the treated water soaks into a drain field in the yard. > **Tip** > > For your diagram, draw a simple flow chart showing: Natural Source → Treatment Plant → Pipes → Your Home → Drain → Sewer/Septic → Wastewater Treatment → Back to Nature. Ask a parent which source your water comes from (city water or well) and whether you have a sewer connection or septic system. ## Preserving Clean Water Access Here are ways communities can protect their water supply for the future. Choose two that are relevant to your area: ### Protect Watersheds A **watershed** is the land area that drains into a particular body of water. Keeping watersheds healthy — by preventing pollution, limiting development near waterways, and planting trees along stream banks — protects the water supply at its source. ### Prevent Pollution Storm drains carry rainwater directly to rivers and lakes without treatment. Oil, fertilizers, pesticides, and trash that wash into storm drains contaminate drinking water sources. Proper disposal of chemicals and reducing fertilizer use keeps water cleaner. ### Invest in Infrastructure Many American cities have water pipes that are 50–100 years old. Aging infrastructure leads to leaks, breaks, and contamination. Investing in pipe replacement and treatment plant upgrades protects water quality and reduces waste. ### Conserve Aquifers In areas that rely on groundwater, pumping water faster than rain can replenish it causes the water table to drop. Conservation measures and managed recharge (intentionally directing rainwater underground) help keep aquifers healthy. > **Safety First!** > > Never drink water directly from a natural source — even if it looks clean. Rivers, lakes, and streams can contain bacteria, parasites, and chemical pollutants invisible to the eye. Always treat or filter water before drinking it in the outdoors. ![An illustrated cross-section showing the journey of water from a river through a treatment plant, to homes, then through wastewater treatment and back to the river](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/water-cycle-diagram?v=44ca693a) [Water Science School — USGS](https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school): Interactive resources about the water cycle, water use, and water quality from the U.S. Geological Survey. Video: [Why Do We Drink Water? - Facts About Water for Kids](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paUYby1kbMs) --- - Previous: [Household Water Usage](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/req2a/index.md) - Next: [Floods & Droughts](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/sustainability/guide/req2c/index.md)