Think about the last time your power went out. Many of us have only experienced a few hours without power, unlike those devastated by the recent hurricanes. We lost access to some of our luxuries and entertainment, right? But at least it only lasted for a few hours or so.
Well, what if it hadn’t?
What if the whole nation lost access to potable water? Or even water in general? On a personal level, we could no longer brush our teeth; wash our hands, cook, or even make coffee (shudder). We’d stink – no more showers or baths (bigger shudder).Now let’s think bigger: Restaurants couldn’t cook. Coffee shops and breweries would be unable to brew coffee and beer. Dentists couldn’t clean their patients’ teeth (those of us that hate going to the dentist may rejoice in that temporarily). Joking aside, hospitals would have to shut down. Doctor’s couldn’t wash their hands. The list goes on.
How long have you relied on water to survive?
Hint: the correct answer is “my entire life.” We absolutely NEED water. This is a basic fact, but one that we have all too easily ignored while taking water for granted. Today, we have become so accustomed to turning a knob and instantly receiving water that we don’t know the fear of being waterless. We haven’t experienced the endless worry that accompanies a true and lasting lack of water. If we aren’t careful, though, we just might.If that day were to come, its results would be catastrophic. The Value of Water Campaign recently released an economic study estimating that a single nationwide day without water would disrupt up to $43.5 billion of economic activity. Now that is a day that we simply cannot afford!While the nationwide lack of water is currently a futuristic possibility, many American communities face a lack of water as a present reality. For example, take a moment to remember the tragedy in Flint, Michigan. Thousands of residents were affected by tainted water supplies. Sadly, it doesn’t stop there. Between 2012 and 2015, hundreds of schools subject to the EPA Lead and Copper rule reported significant increases in lead levels in their water. Remember the fear and endless worry I mentioned earlier? The people in these communities live with it daily. I think we can agree that such a situation is unacceptable, right?
So, what do we do? How do we take care of our water?
Honestly, the name of the game here is “Stay Informed and Spread the Knowledge of the Value of Water.” There are many things that we can do personally to conserve, preserve, repurpose, and reuse our water. We know about turning off the sink while we brush our teeth, but what about allowing nature to water our lawns? These things may seem menial and unimportant, but when enough people understand the magnitude of water’s impact on our lives, those tiny changes add up to a much-needed improvement to our future.With that being said, it is certainly important to make those changes in our day-to-day lives and habits. It is just as important, however, to show others the importance of water preservation – many people are simply unaware of how utterly important it is to protect our water. Inform your friends and family about their part in the safekeeping of our water. It is a precious necessity, and it would be far too easy to lose it entirely.
Think about it: What if a day without water was every day?
Let’s all do our part.
