 The importance of water. Water is an extremely important part of our lives. Water is essential for maintaining good health as it helps in regulating body temperature, carries out normal functioning, aids in digestion and removes toxins from the body. However, one tends to think that it is only important for the healthy functioning of our bodies. But water is so vital in other areas of our lives too. For example, water is used to maintain hygiene standards necessary for healthy living too. Without proper sanitation, the risk of various illnesses are very high. In this regard water is essential for washing, cleaning and sanitation. Apart from drinking water, it is also used daily for cooking food and for making drinks. Moreover, water is needed for irrigation without which food production will come to a halt. Sadly, approximately 2.2 billion people do not have basic drinking water services, 4.2 billion people do not have basic sanitation services, and 3 billion lack hand washing facilities around the world. What can we do? Firstly, be mindful of water wastage. Save water where possible. Secondly, manage water resources effectively to ensure the availability of clean water. Thirdly, build infrastructures to aid supplies where needed. For example, human-built dams store water, which helps in the irrigation of surrounding land. They also generate energy and regulate the river flow. Every year, 22 marches observed as, World Water Day, to bring about awareness on the importance of fresh water and ensure sustainable management of its various resources. Let's value our water resources.