Water and society

annual observance day about freshwater

United Nations day on 19 November to tackle the sanitation crisis

hoax where water is presented by an uncommon name

A waterbed, water mattress, or flotation mattress is a bed or mattress filled with water. Waterbeds intended for medical therapies appear in various reports through the 19th century. The modern version, invented in San Francisco and patented in 1971, became a popular consumer item in the United States through the 1980s with up to 20% of the market in 1986 and 22% in 1987. By 2013, they accounted for less than 5% of new bed sales. thumb|A softside waterbed mattress

thumb|Participants in an uchimizu ceremony in New York City refers to the sprinkling of water in Japanese gardens and streets. It is more than a mere matter of hygiene and has, in temples and gardens, a ritual or contemplative purpose. In streets in summer, it serves to cool the immediate area, keep down dust, and also please neighbors. Japanese people see uchimizu as exemplifying national values as it combines utilitarian, aesthetic, courteous, and dutiful ends .