Credits – Content Writer: Maya Vishwakarma / Artist: Shweta Sharma / Idea: Lakshman Molleti
Life cannot be sustained without water. Among the nutrients essential for life, water ranks second only to oxygen in importance. Like Humans, animals also need safe drinking water for their survival. For animals, water consumed from outside sources serves as the primary source of drinking water. In addition to water availability, it is important to consider water quality. It is sad to see several stray animals drinking dirty water from gutters and puddles as they fail to find clean and safe water.
The condition during Monsoon season becomes even more distressing. Rainwater is slightly acidic and very low in dissolved minerals, as such, it is relatively corrosive. Pathogens such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Campylobacter, Vibrio, Salmonella, Shigella and Pseudomonas have also been detected in rainwater. Similarly, rainwater that has run off of plants or buildings could pick up toxic chemicals from these surfaces. All these characteristics make rainwater unsuitable for drinking. Thus, rainwater requires adequate treatment and processing before it is being used as a drinking water, which is not possible with animals.
While it is easy for most of us to carry a bottle of water or perhaps buy one, it’s time to spare a thought for the ones who can’t. Animals deserve the same rights as humans. By depriving them of safe and clean drinking water, we are contributing to cruelty passively. And also encourage to give good food and shelter by showing your kindness towards them.
We, AWBP INDIA are destined to create a platform to get safe and clean drinking water to stray animals round the clock throughout the year and make people more sensitive towards animal welfare via our “Continuous Education” program.
Reference: http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~edudev/LabTutorials/Water/FreshWater/acidrain.html
http://iitmenvis.nic.in/menu/ENVIS_Acid_Rain/011.html
https://www.thehindu.com/seta/2004/03/25/stories/2004032500400400.htm
Rajni Kaushik, Rajasekhar Balasubramanian-Assessment of bacterial pathogens in fresh rainwater and airborne particulate matter using Real-Time PCR-Atmospheric Environment-Volume 46, January 2012, Pages 131-139
Richard Hill-Bacterial Activity in Rain Water-MWH, Water Treatment Principles and Design, Wiley 2005