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Our common home is mostly water, but only about .03% of the water on Earth is freshwater vital to most of Creation. Most of this small percentage is unattainable –frozen in glaciers or icecaps. Still, the amount of freshwater on our planet has sustained life since its creation. Today, this precious and limited resource is threatened and increasingly made undrinkable by pollutants such as lead, plastic, and chemicals, as well as harmful microbes, bacteria, and other organisms.
In the United States, many of our neighbors struggle with access to clean drinkable water, especially those already experiencing poverty. The water crisis in Flint, MI occurred almost a decade ago, and the community is still dealing with health issues and concerning lead levels. In recent years, unsafe drinking water has been a reported concern for residents in cities in Mississippi, New Mexico, Texas, and Maryland. Additionally, water shortages are becoming increasingly common in the western states.
Why is there a water crisis in one of the most water-rich, wealthy, and powerful countries in the world? Shannon Marquez, the Dean of Global Engagement and professor of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene at Columbia University recently told PBS News: “I think this is a very complicated issue where we have a number of things that have come to a head all at one time. First, we have aging infrastructure and repairs and maintenance that have really lagged because states and local governments have been overburdened and juggling these funding priorities for a number of years….And if you think about that means that communities that have been historically underfunded or underserved are disproportionately being impacted. That coupled with climate change and extreme weather events and flooding are increasingly impacting water systems and that aging infrastructure then also begins to impact contamination. So, old pipes really can leach and the pole plumbing can corrode and lead contamination from these leaching pipes and becomes a health issue.”
Adding to concerns, billionaires, corporations, and foreign entities are buying up water rights across the United States, especially in California and the mid-west where water is most scarce. This has driven up water prices and threatened access to individuals and local agriculture. What happens when small farmers or families can no longer afford water?
What can we do?
In the United States, part of the solution is to come together, collaborate, and focus on investing in infrastructure, as well as developing policies and legislation that protect water accessibility for all. Sustainable regulations are also needed to hold polluters accountable and protect water sources. We must remain in constant dialog with our leaders and elected officials. (Learn more in the links below).
According to most experts, water conservation is one of the most vital parts of the solution to the water crisis. And, it is something each one of us can do by reducing the amount of water we use and properly disposing of wastewater, chemicals, and other harmful materials. When able, we can also choose more eco-friendly cleaning products and appliances. Click here for tips
As we continue our journey into the Season of Creation, we invite you to join us in prayer and give thanks for the life-sustaining gift of water. Recognizing the vital connection between creation and water, we also seek divine guidance as we answer the call to act to support efforts to conserve water and improve access and sustainability of drinkable water to all persons throughout the world
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