Water is a precious gift: precious because it is essential to all life and a gift because it is freely given. How are we interacting with this gift?
Years ago I had the privilege to work with a man from Botswana. I became acutely aware of the abundance of water we enjoy in this country, but also the misuse of water when he asked if the water in our toilets was potable. When I answered that it was, the look on his face spoke volumes.
The water we have today is the same water that dinosaurs swam in! It just travels in cycles through clouds, precipitation, living organisms, rivers, streams, groundwater.
Unnatural Disasters
Today we are are experiencing inconsistent rainfall due to disruptions in the water cycle, and so we have droughts and deluges that lead to crop failure, wildfires, flooding and widespread damage often with loss of lives.
There is nothing natural about these disasters; they are caused by the mismanagement of the land and it’s resources:
- Destruction of wetlands: Wetlands mitigate flooding and recharge ground water (besides providing breeding grounds for aquatic life). 50% have been destroyed in the U.S alone. [Reference]
- Clear cutting of forests: Trees significantly contribute to cloud formation and are an integral part of the water cycle.
- Agriculture: By some estimates, as much as 30 percent of total water used for irrigation comes from unsustainable withdrawals of groundwater, causing groundwater depletion. [Reference]
These are just some of the ways we’ve interfered with the water cycle and apparently we’re getting better at it. The proliferation of plastic has polluted our oceans. Oil and gas extraction continues unabated.
What Can We Do?
Fortunately there are ways we can help bring back a healthier water cycle. If you have any land, walk out side in a rainstorm. Watch where the water runs. Where it runs, help it walk, where it walks, help it crawl and where it crawls, help it go into the ground. This can easily be done with sticks, logs or rocks. Provide shade for streams.
Conserve and protect water through simple household practices:
- Turn off the water while brushing teeth.
- Place a bucket in the shower while you’re waiting for the water to warm. Use it to water plants, for cleaning, etc.
- Practice the “if it’s yellow, let it mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down” technique.
- Mulch, mulch, mulch the gardens to retain moisture.
- Avoid polyester clothing as they are a source of microplastics in water.
- Eat less beef. It’s the largest agricultural product of water consumption. [Reference]
- Use cleaning products that are safe for the environment. (Available in The Floyd Refillery at the Floyd Farmers Market.)
- Spread the word. Water is for all of us and we have a responsibility to use the gift wisely.
If you are inspired to do more, check out Water Stories. The folks there are teaching and doing extraordinary work worldwide.
Beyond the Tap Series by The Floyd Times
“Beyond the Tap” is a multi-part series by Floyd Times that breaks down challenges facing the Floyd-Floyd County Public Service Authority. Article topics include the charter of the Floyd-Floyd County PSA which examines the foundation and crucial steps for improvement to Floyd’s water system, the costs associated with the future of a strong PSA, misconceptions about who the PSA serves in Floyd County, and a preliminary groundwater assessment for Floyd County by a team from Virginia Tech.