Whilst watching the shocking coverage of the horrendous situation in Japan, something struck me - how phenomenally powerful the most natural resource in the world is - water.

When the natural disaster struck in Japan the wave that hit coastal towns and villages was 23 feet high and was travelling at around 45mph. This huge wall of water created an unbelievable amount of devastation and was a stark reminder of how fragile the world is that we're living in.

Following on from the initial disaster of the Tsunami hitting Japan, all focus is now on the nuclear plants in Fukushima. Again we are reminded of the power of water as there are reports that the water surrounding the control rods that's crucial for keeping them cool is evaporating. A huge military effort has been taking place to douse the reactors in water in an attempt to keep the rods cool to prevent radiation from leaking.

At the time of writing there are reports of traces of radiation present in the tap water supply in Tokyo, 220 kilometres away from Fukushima. Residents in the country are naturally worried about bottled water shortages – yet another reminder of the importance of the availability of fresh drinking water for people throughout the world. (Something that World Water Day is generating more awareness about this week).

It is easy to take water for granted and as a water cooler company it is a resource that we're always talking about. It's at times like these however, that the real power of water is felt in a number of ways on a much larger scale.