Task 6 Non-Fiction Water

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow

Water is essential to life. It is part of every living thing and is the most abundant and widely distributed natural resource on earth. It is used in the home for a variety of purposes and at the community level it is used in agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, health and recreation. Fresh water is obtained from rainfall, streams, rivers, lakes, springs, wells and dams. Some countries, Dominica for example, obtain their supply of fresh water from surface drainage such as lakes and rivers. Others, such as Barbados and The Bahamas, get their supply mainly from underground sources and have to dig wells. In Curacao and St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), fresh water is obtained mainly from sea water. Factories called desalination plants remove the salt to make the water drinkable. The main problem in many Caribbean countries is a shortage of water. During certain months of the year, low rainfall can seriously reduce the water supply. Poor water distribution is another factor. A further problem affecting the water supply is pollution. This is caused by harmful chemicals and bacteria entering the water supply through the improper disposal of household and industrial waste. Another problem is wastage by consumers. Most Caribbean countries have a Central Water Authority which is responsible for the water supply to all communities. The authority maintains and seeks to improve the water catchment areas, and also the collection, storage, treatment and delivery of water. In order to provide this service, the authority employs many trained persons for field and office work. It costs a lot of money to bring water to all sections of the community.

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