Water: Blog Action Day 2010 – What We Can Do

Blog Action Day 2010 WaterWater…the most important necessity for life – our life. Few realize that in the heirarchy of needs water comes first – before food – before shelter (and those three are the only actual necessities in life).

Our bodies are 75% water and nothing is more important to health. Lack of drinking water is also the next big crisis.

Water Drop ImageWATER! Wars will be fought over it. Fights between communities, states and countries are inevitable.

Water rights are going to be a growing political issue with winners and losers.

Did you know that in Austin, Texas, luxury homes are being built in areas that have no city-provided water? The builders and home-owners are prohibited from drilling a well and can not obtain water from any water district so they use water collection systems and water tanks to collect rainwater.

Texas is going to have major water issues as population continues to increase and Texas ground water diminishes. Most of the heavily populated areas of California were a desert and only exist because there is an aqueduct system that brings water from far away.

Before 1990, California wanted to ban the growing of certain crops including alfalfa to reserve the water for cities. California water rules curtail development.

Colorado Aqueduct
Colorado Aqueduct

Their water comes from the Colorado River and there is already a Colorado River Water Shortage proposal.

Some even believe desert cities like Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoeniz will be depopulated by a shortage of water.

Water shortages will potentially affect us all – yet another symptom of artificially concentrating populations in cities instead of living sustainably in rural communities (but that is a subject for another day).

Few even in the United States have pure water because we have foolishly allowed our water to be intentionally fluoridated polluted with fluoride industrial waste and pharmaceuticals in our water but at least we have water. (And the wise among us at least use water filters to remove contaminants or use alternative water sources.)

In many countries there is no drinking water available because of poverty. While we may be slowing killing ourselves with flouridated water, at least we do not see people around us dying immediately – and make no mistake – people in other countries ARE DYING from lack of safe drinking water.

“Around the world 4,500 children die each day from water related diseases.”

Ryans Well Foundation LogoMany have been moved to provide wells for those who have no way of affording the drilling themselves, including one of the most inspirational young people you will ever likely meet:

Ryan founded the Ryan’s Well Foundationat age SEVEN! SEVEN! – and has provided water for 630 water projects in 16 countries bringing clean water and sanitation to 700,880 people! If he can do that WE can at least help him.

This video is an excerpt from a movie about Ryan’s accomplishments. There is a very short commercial on the front but I assure you it is well worth watching.

If Ryan can do that at his age and sustain his efforts so long, what can WE do?

  1. Donate time or money to The Ryan’s Well Foundation.
  2. Learn where your water comes from – use resources like this one for California water sources or the EPA Local Drinking Water Information Maps.
  3. Consider installing a grey water system to reuse water for watering your yard, landscape, trees or garden.
  4. Plant a water wise garden.
  5. Think about the quality of your water and what you can do to improve it. Healthy water = healthy bodies!
  6. Stop buying bottled water

Published by

Gail Gardner

Founder of GrowMap, Small Business Marketing Strategist, freelance writer and BizSugar Mastermind Community Manager.

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