Water, Water Everywhere, But Not a Drop to Drink

Get ready for the 2010 Summer Reading Program with some fun facts about water:

There are about 326 million trillion gallons of water on earth. Between 70 to 75% of the earth is covered by water. About 98% of water is in the oceans but, ocean water is undrinkable because of the salt.

Of the major oceans, the North Atlantic is the saltiest. Sodium and chloride (components of common table salt) constitute a little more than 85% of the dissolved solids in ocean water. This gives water its salty taste. 

Other dissolved solids found in ocean water are magnesium, sulfate, calcium and potassium which when combined with chloride and sodium makeup 99% of dissolved solids in sea water.

Humans cannot drink salt water, but salt water can be made into freshwater by a process known as desalination.

Ready to learn more about water? Check out some of these books from the Library's Youth Services Department and don't forget to sign up for the Summer Reading Program on Monday, June 14.

(Photo by: albertopveiga)