Water

Water is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance. It is vital for all known forms of life.

Description of what it is like

In its liquid state, water flows and takes the shape of its container. It can also exist as a solid (ice) and a gas (vapor/steam).

Origin and where to find it

• Environments: Oceans, rivers, lakes, underground aquifers, and glaciers.
• Signs: Visible bodies of water; damp soil; clouds.
• It is a natural material.

Minimum processing required

• Collection: From a source.
• Filtration: Removing physical impurities and sediment.
• Purification/Disinfection: Boiling or chemical treatment to kill pathogens.
• Distillation: For high purity.

Tools needed to work on it

• Buckets and containers for transport and storage.
• Filters (sand, charcoal, cloth).
• Heat source for boiling.
• Pumps for extraction.

Common forms of use

• Raw: For washing and basic cooling.
• Purified: For drinking and cooking.
• Steam: For power generation and sterilization.

Quality and Potability

• Clarity and Odor: Turbid or smelly water requires full treatment.
• Sedimentation: Let it sit so solid particles settle.
• Multiple Filtration: Cloth, sand, and charcoal to improve cleanliness.
• Disinfection: Boiling, solar exposure in clear containers (SODIS), or chemical treatment when available.
• Separation: Keep potable water isolated from non-potable.

Storage and Conservation

• Clean Containers: With lids to prevent re-contamination.
• Materials: Prioritize glazed ceramics, glass, or inert materials.
• Reactivity: Avoid contact with reactive metals or corroded containers.
• Location: Cool and shaded to reduce algae growth and evaporation.
• Rotation: Consume the oldest stored water first.

Critical Uses for Reconstruction

• Public Health: Basic hygiene, wound cleaning, and disease control.
• Industrial Processes: Cooling, fiber washing, lime and mortar manufacturing.
• Energy and Mechanics: Steam, water mills, river transport.
• Food: Cooking, fermentation, and preservation.

Possible substitutes

• None for biological consumption.
• Other liquids (like oils or alcohols) for specific industrial or solvent uses.

Limitations and common failures

• Contamination: Easily polluted by chemicals or biological agents.
• Freezing: Expands when frozen, which can burst pipes or containers.
• Evaporation: Lost to the atmosphere if not contained.

Risks and safety

• Drowning: In large bodies of water.
• Pathogens: Waterborne diseases (cholera, typhoid, etc.).
• Scalding: From hot water or steam.

Related materials

• Ice: The solid form of water.
• Salt: Often found dissolved in water (seawater).
• Clay: Becomes malleable when mixed with water.
• Soap: Works with water to clean.