More water is used in factories than in homes. People use water in homes for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Sometimes water has to brought to land that otherwise might be too dry for crops and animals to survive. This is called irrigation and is done by building pipelines and canals to bring the water from the rivers and lakes. Water is also used to produce electricity either by heating it, or by using its power as it falls from dams and waterfalls to turn big turbines.
People also use water for recreation, such as swimming, fishing and boating.
The oceans and other waterways such as rivers, lakes and man made canals are used to transport people and goods from place to place, by ships and barges. Water Pollution Dumping of harmful chemicals, oil spillages, rubbish and farm wastes can all cause water pollution. Even litter can wash into stormwater drains and end up in the bay or the ocean. Polluted water can kill fish and other animals. It is dangerous to water birds, and may kill the tiny plants and animals on which fish feed.