Industrial Uses Of Water

Why is Water called the 'Life-Blood Of Industry'?

Industries that produce metals, wood, paper, chemicals, gasoline, oils and most other products all use water in some part of their production process.

Industry depends on water, much like agriculture and domestic households depends on water.

Industries use water for such purposes as fabricating, processing, washing, diluting, cooling or transporting a product.

They also incorporate water into a product; or use it for sanitation needs within the manufacturing facility.

Industrial reliance on water makes it essential to preserve water in every aspect possible, and make sure water pollution is kept at minimal levels.

What was the earliest use of water?

The earliest use of water was fro farming. Early civilizations discovered that if fields were watered regularly, the yield would be much higher. So, they started using water for irrigating their fields. However, pulling up water from a well or pond and carrying it to distant fields was hard work. So simple machines were invented to do this work.

Shaduf Instrument

One of earliest machines was the shaduf, which was widely found in ancient Egypt. It consisted of a container made of animal skins or clay, attached to a lever. The lever was counter-balanced by stones. The container was dipped in to the river, and when it was full, it was lifted out and dumped into a canal that led to the fields. The shaduf enabled a man to lift 2,271 liters of water a day to a height of six feet.

Centuries later, the Water wheel was invented. pots were attached to the rim of a vertical wheel. The wheel was then turned by men walking on a treadmill attached to its shaft.

A Waterwheel

As the wheel rotated, one pot after the other scooped up water, raised it, and emptied it in to an irrigation ditch.

Archimedes Screw

Archimedes Screw is a simple mechanical device believed to have been invented by Archimedes in the 3rd century B.C.

It consists of hallow wooden tube inside of which a continuous screw, extending the length of the cylinder, forms a spiral chamber.

By placing the lower end in water and revolving the screw, water is raised to the top. The device was cranked by hand, and the Nile Delta has been irrigated with such devices for centuries.