Water--One of Earth's Most Precious Resources

Fresh, clean water...

Those of us that have it are fortunate, so fortunate that we seldom think about it.  We need to.  Water is essential for everything in life.

Over two years ago, in June of 2008, when I arrived at my hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and began to settle my belongings into the room that would be my home for the next five days, I paused at the dressing table mirror to read the sign posted there.   (Click image to enlarge.)

I had to ponder the message.  I was in a high dessert.  Rain and ground water are not plentiful, especially in summer months.  The consideration of not having enough water settled on me slowly.

During my stay, I was mindful of turning off the faucet, of spending less time in the shower, of only pouring the amount of water I wanted to drink.

At the end of my stay in Las Vegas, I journeyed higher into the mountains to a remote camp on the edge of the Santa Fe National Forest for a writing and meditating workshop.  By design, the water used in camp, except for drinking water, was rain water and snow melt.  Light and heat were provided by solar panels.  Out-houses, two of them, were well maintained.  Showers were limited to three per guest during our four-day stay.  All of these things required adjustment.  But we had clean water to drink, clean water for preparing meals, and enough water for all of our needs.   

Cook cabin at Rose Mountain camp with wildlife pond in foreground.

Other people are not so fortunate.  Did you know that almost a billion people on this earth, one in eight people, do not have access to clean water?  Or that nearly 30,000 children a week, under the age of five, die from unsafe water and unsanitary living conditions?  Or even that 40% of American rivers and 46% of American lakes are too polluted for swimming, fishing or aquatic life?  These are just a few of the disturbing facts about our planet's water.    

There is always something we can do, each one of us in our own way, to help conserve, protect and share this precious resource.  This is Blog Action Day 2010 and the subject is:  Water.  Take a few minutes to visit some of the links below to learn more about our water problems and how you can help.

Links:
The Bottled Water Hall of Shame at littleorangeguy
Not Any Drop to Drink at Murrmurrs
More facts about everyday water problems:  Why Water?

Facts about Pollution and Ways to Help Reduce Pollution of water
News about cities helping our environment by Changing the Waste and Pollution of Bottled Water
The work of American Rivers