I remember leaving the water running while washing the car, cleaning dishes, brushing my teeth and taking long showers. I remember overwatering the lawn and garden, running soaker hoses all night and jumping through sprinklers without a second thought.

At the time, it seemed innocent enough. But we must be mindful of the warnings of looming scarcity as the life’s essential liquid is strained to its limits.

Earth is a delicate, relatively tiny blue water planet, one of trillions in the cosmos, perfect for sustainable life. Yet humankind struggles to acknowledge the consequences of abusing the very substance that makes life possible.

At Earth’s beginning 4.5 billion years ago, water enabled the creation of the primordial soup that gave rise to the planet’s first microbial life forms. All flora, fauna, winged creatures and creepy-crawlers require oxygen, water, sunlight and mineral-rich soil for germination, photosynthesis, growth, survival and the continuation of their species.

Without water, life would never have begun.

Leonardo da Vinci proclaimed, “Water is the driving force of all nature.” Gandhi added, “The earth, the air, the land and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children. So we have to hand over to them at least as it was handed over to us.”

As Earth’s population grows, demand increases, and so does the scale of potential conflict. The BBC reports that the bulk of water-related conflicts are tied to agriculture. That is hardly surprising, since agriculture accounts for about 70% of global freshwater use.

There is the same amount of freshwater on Earth as there has always been, but population has exploded, leaving the world’s water resources in crisis. Water scarcity is an abstract concept to many and a stark reality for others.

To put water’s availability in perspective, the Environmental Protection Agency notes that nearly 97% of the world’s water is salty or otherwise undrinkable. Another 2% is locked in ice caps and glaciers. That leaves just 1% for all of humanity’s agricultural, residential, manufacturing, community and personal use.

Like Earth, about 70% of our body is water. Water regulates body temperature, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues and removes waste.

We are a complicated system of pipes and drains that requires regular purging. Without it, our internal systems can become clogged and backed up with toxic byproducts, creating a noxious pond within our inner ecosystem.

Clean water flushes waste products out of cells and is crucial for digestion, absorption, circulation and excretion. It also helps the body use water-soluble vitamins and transport nutrients. We can obtain some water by eating fruits and vegetables throughout the day.

Our cells weaken because of built-up waste. Even when there are no toxic substances in our food, there are waste products we must get rid of.

Clearly, respecting, conserving, recognizing and consuming clean water is best for overall personal and earthly health and a prolonged quality existence.

Now, pardon me. Nature calls.