After a meal and business our meeting of 7th February enjoyed an illustrated talk by club member Ian McBain - about water. 

With vague memories from school chemistry lessons we were reminded that water has the chemical formula H2O; a compound of Hydrogen and Oxygen, connected by covalent bonds! It is one of the most plentiful and essential  substances, existing in gaseous, liquid and solid forms. The tasteless and odourless liquid we know so well has the ability to dissolve many other substances - essential to living organisms.

Ian took us on an interesting journey around water’s many uses: for drinking, for cooking, as a solvent, for industry, for power, for transport, for recreation.

We learned that some 70% of the freshwater used by humans goes to agriculture. We learned, too, of the importance of clean drinking water; a benefit sadly not seen in many parts of the world. Ian reminded us of the connection between dirty water and cholera - the story of John Snow who, in 1854 discovering the part played by the Broad Street pump in a cholera outbreak - the water being contaminated by cesspit leakage.

It was also interesting to be reminded of the role that water plays in power generation - from the long established hydro electric schemes, to todays tidal barriers, tidal turbines and wave generators. And of course water provides the steam to drive generators in conventional and nuclear power stations.

We saw enticing glimpses of recreation with swimming sailing surfing and so many more leisure pastimes all based on water.

And finally to transport - from canals and rivers to modern ocean going cargo ships, conducting global trade to every corner of our world. 

An unusual and interesting talk and, following questions a vote of thanks was proposed by Willian Duncan.