ABSTRACT
When we look at rushing waterfalls and rivers, we may not immediately think of electricity, but water-powered (hydroelectric) power plants are responsible for lighting many of our homes and neighborhoods. Hydropower is the harnessing of water to perform work. The power of falling water has been used in industry for thousands of years (see Table 5.1). The Greeks used water wheels to grind wheat into flour more than 2000 years ago. In addition to grinding flour, the power of water has been used to saw wood and power textile mills and manufacturing plants.
