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6 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | SEPTEMBER 2026 By Janet Boyce, Resident Water is the foundation of life on Earth. Without it, humans, animals, and plants cannot survive. The basic facts about water determine the health and future of all living organisms and our planet. First of all, it sustains life: Every living cell depends on water to function. Secondly, it keeps our bodies working: Water regulates body temperature, transports nutrients and oxygen, lubricates joints, aids digestion, and removes waste. Furthermore, water is essential for photosynthesis to take place in the plant, a process that is vital for the plant's food and oxygen needs. It provides many different habitats in the oceans, lakes, rivers, and wetlands. It fosters agriculture for crops and livestock, making water essential for the world's food supply. Finally, it supports human civilization: drinking, industry, transportation, sanitation, and energy production. From a broader perspective, water is often seen as a symbol of life, renewal, and hope. Many cultures view water as a gift that cleanses, refreshes, and sustains both physical and spiritual life. We used to take water for granted, and some still do. However, with a growing population worldwide, water has become a precious commodity. Besides the availability of land, water is the number one concern when building new cities, housing developments, etc. Scientists believe that Earth's water formed about 4.5 billion years ago. Some of it came from water vapor released by Earth's interior through volcanic activity. As the planet became cool, the vapor condensed into rain, filling the oceans. Additional water may have been delivered by icy asteroids and comets that struck the young Earth. The earliest forms of life appeared in the Earth's oceans and began to develop and evolve. Every form of life depends on water. The earliest civilizations settled near rivers and lakes for drinking, farming, fishing, and transportation. Some of the great rivers were the Nile River in Egypt, the Tigris-Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia, the Indus River in South Asia, and the Yellow River in China. These first civilizations developed irrigation systems, allowing crops to grow and populations to expand. Scientists currently believe that about 71 percent of Earth's surface is covered by water, but only 2.5 percent is freshwater. This makes conserving clean water one of the world's most important responsibilities. Water has shaped continents, influenced climates, sustained civilizations, and remains the foundation for all life. Its history is inseparable from the history of our planet and of humanity itself. Now, go get a drink of precious water, and be thankful you're alive! Water: The Gift of Life