Abstract
Water is the most precious resource of the earth because no life is possible without water. It is essential for the survival and livelihood of every human. It also regulates ecosystems, grows our food and powers our industry. Hardly any economic activity can be sustained without water. Undoubtedly, water plays a vital role in our life. Different dimensions of water functions in society and nature are (Falkenmark and Rockstrom, 2004): (i) water as life-support and hence as a basic need and as a human and animal right; (ii) water as an economic commodity in some uses; (iii) water as an integral part of ecosystem (sustaining it and being sustained by it); (iv) water as a sacred resource; and (v) water as an inevitable component of cultures and civilizations. Thus, water is the key resource for the human/animal health, socio-economic development, and the survival of earth's ecosystems. On the other hand, natural ecosystems also play a crucial role in the availability and quality of water through their purifying and regulating services, thereby sustaining human development on the earth. In other words, water has social, economic and environmental values and is essential for sustainable development (Falkenmark and Rockstrom, 2004; UNESCO, 2003, 2009). In contrast with many other vital resources of the earth, there is no substitute for water in most activities and processes where it is needed!
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Machiwal, D., Jha, M.K. (2012). Introduction. In: Hydrologic Time Series Analysis: Theory and Practice. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1861-6_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1861-6_1
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