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Bill R. Alexander Scholarship
Jacob Menicucci - Contech Engineered Solutions
Jacob is graduating from St. Pius X High School and plans to attend NMSU to study Business Administration in Finance, and Building Construction Technology. He is seeking a career in Civil Underground and Construction and hopes to own his own company one day.
As a requirement for the NMUCA Scholarship for graduating seniors, Jacob submitted the following Essay.
Question: Why is ensuring an uninterrupted supply of clean water crucial to our nation's environment, public health, economy, and overall quality of life?
Jacob Menicucci
NMUCA Scholarship Essay
Having access to clean water is perhaps one of the most fundamental parts of living in the United States. Clean water availability allows for people to keep adding on to and improving the infrastructure, improving the environment, and improving public health of this country. At times it may be a challenge providing clean water for everyone in this country. However, with proper engineering and regulation we can provide the right clean water infrastructure for the United States and the world.
Being able to supply clean water is very important to public health and the overall wellbeing of a community. It is essential for the basics of life such as drinking, cooking, and sanitation. Diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid are all spread through contaminated water and can lead to major illness and fatalities. In fact, each year an estimated 1.7 to 2.2 million people worldwide die due to waterborne diseases. Most of those being children or other vulnerable populations. In the United States, an estimated 6,000 people die due to water contained diseases every year.
From an overall environmental standpoint in order for ecosystems to work properly the water must be free of contamination. A healthy balanced ecosystem supports all life on the planet, human, aquatic, animal, plant & microbial. If water as the support system for all life is contaminated it can adversely affect one system and eventually all systems of this planet. Eventually one or more species can be harmed, an ecosystem such as aquatic life could be interrupted, and this could lead to a domino effect harming multiple areas of life.
Infrastructure provided by the construction and engineering industries such as water supply, sewage and drainage systems when properly designed and installed ensure clean water. A clean water infrastructure provides a foundation for an economy that is allowed to run. If large segments of our population were to be un-healthy due to waterborne contamination and illness, the economic engine of the United State, would be limited and sporadic, like what happens in 3n1 world nations. All industries including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and energy production rely on clean water to operate properly. Having access to an uninterrupted supply of clean water is essential for maintaining and growing the economy. Additionally, clean water has a major economic effect on tourism in the United States. The tourism industry depends on clean bodies of water for fishing, swimming, and boating, as well as clean drinking water for lodging and commerce. Clean water contributes to a healthy economy especially in a state like New Mexico that relies heavily on energy production and tourism.
Clean water is a fundamental right and very important in a human being's quality of life. With clean water the population can stay healthy, find ways to take care of the ecosystem, and contribute to the economy. It also ensures that people are able to meet their basic needs which means they are able to find ways to go to work and contribute to the economy, go to the hospital if sick, and keep their communities clean. A clean water infrastructure is made possible by the construction industry, the industry where I want to make my career.
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