Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Water is essential for life, but it can also pose various safety risks and cause significant damage under certain circumstances. This research project aims to explore the different aspects of safety and damage associated with water in various settings. The study will investigate the potential hazards of water, including drowning, waterborne diseases, and flooding, among others. The research will delve into the preventive measures that can be implemented to enhance water safety, such as learning swimming skills, installing proper fencing and barriers around water bodies, and ensuring clean water sources. Additionally, the project will examine the impact of water-related disasters, such as floods and tsunamis, on infrastructure, communities, and the environment. Furthermore, the study will analyze the ways in which water damage can affect buildings, vehicles, and other property. It will explore strategies for mitigating water damage, including proper maintenance of plumbing systems, timely repairs of leaks, and adequate waterproofing of structures. The research will also investigate the role of insurance in covering water-related damages and the importance of having appropriate insurance policies in place. Moreover, the project will address the health implications of exposure to contaminated water and the measures that can be taken to prevent waterborne illnesses. It will examine the methods of water treatment and purification to ensure the safety of drinking water and reduce the risk of infections. In conclusion, this research project will provide valuable insights into the safety and damage associated with water, offering recommendations for promoting water safety and minimizing the impact of water-related hazards. By understanding the potential risks and implementing effective preventive measures, individuals and communities can better protect themselves from water-related incidents and safeguard their health, property, and environment.

Thesis Overview

BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Water (H2O) is a transparent fluid which forms the world’s streams, lakes, oceans and rain, and is the major constituent of the fluids of organisms(Shiff, 2009). As a chemical compound, a water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogenatoms that are connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at standard ambient temperature and pressure, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice; and gaseous state, steam (water vapor)(Chandiwana. 2006). It also exists as snow, fog, dew and cloud.

Water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface. It is vital for all known forms of life. On Earth, 96.5% of the planet’s crust water is found in seas and oceans, 1.7% in groundwater, 1.7% in glaciers and the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland, a small fraction in other large water bodies, and 0.001% in the air as vapor, clouds (formed of ice and liquid water suspended in air), and precipitation(Shiff, 2009). Only 2.5% of this water is freshwater, and 98.8% of that water is in ice (excepting ice in clouds) and groundwater(Chandiwana. 2006). Less than 0.3% of all freshwater is in rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere, and an even smaller amount of the Earth’s freshwater (0.003%) is contained within biological bodies and manufactured products. A greater quantity of water is found in the earth’s interior.

Water on Earth moves continually through the water cycle of evaporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration), condensation, precipitation, and runoff, usually reaching the seaShiff, C.J. 2009. Evaporation and transpiration contribute to the precipitation over land. Water used in the production of a good or service is known as virtual water.

Safe drinking water is essential to humans and other lifeforms even though it provides no calories or organicnutrients(Garfield2003). Access to safe drinking water has improved over the last decades in almost every part of the world, but approximately one billion people still lack access to safe water and over 2.5 billion lack access to adequate sanitation(Shiff, 2009). There is a clear correlation between access to safe water and gross domestic product per capita. However, some observers have estimated that by 2025 more than half of the world population will be facing water-based vulnerability.A report, issued in November 2009, suggests that by 2030, in some developing regions of the world, water demand will exceed supply by 50%.(Garfield2003)  Water plays an important role in the world economy, as it functions as a solvent for a wide variety of chemical substances and facilitates industrial cooling and transportation. Approximately 70% of the freshwater used by humans goes to agriculture(Shiff, 2009).