Can we get water from plants?

Plants play an essential role in our lives. They not only serve as a source of food, but they also help us breathe by producing oxygen. Besides, they also absorb and store water, which made some people wonder whether we can get water from plants. In this article, we will explore this question and see if it's possible.

What is in plant cells?

Plant cells contain water, which is necessary for their growth and survival. Almost 90% of a plant's weight comes from water, which supports the plant's cells and provides the structure needed for growth. When a plant receives water, it's absorbed through the roots and then distributed throughout the plant using xylem cells or tubes. Water is also consumed during photosynthesis, which is a process that converts the energy from the sun into food, and as water evaporates from the leaves.

Can we extract water from plants?

Although plants do store water, it is not easy to extract it. To extract water from a plant, we would have to remove all the water contained in the plant cells. In theory, this could be done using a process called desiccation, which involves removing all the moisture from a piece of plant tissue. However, this process is time-consuming and expensive, and the amount of water obtained is relatively small. Therefore, it is not feasible to extract water from plants on a large scale.

Do people use plants for water?

Despite not being able to extract large amounts of water from plants, some people have used plants as a source of water in survival situations. For example, the Saguaro cactus can store up to 200 gallons of water in its tissues, which can be accessed by cutting into the plant. Similarly, coconut water contains a high amount of electrolytes and can be consumed in tropical regions where coconuts are abundant. However, these are unique cases, and most plants do not have enough water to meet our water needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while plants do store water, it is not feasible to get water from them on a large scale. Although we can extract water from certain plants, the amount of water obtained is relatively small and not enough to meet our daily water requirements. Therefore, we should continue to rely on traditional sources of water, such as tap water and groundwater, to fulfill our water needs.