Scholarship applications for graduating seniors require an essay answering the question, "Why is ensuring an uninterrupted supply of clean water crucial to our nation's environment, public health, economy, and overall quality of life?"
Applicants give permission to publish, and the essays will be published in the next few newsletters.
Essay by Kate S. Rocco:
When asked the very basic question of “What do humans need to survive?” The first response is almost always “water.” It is often following or proceeding the response “food.”
The right to water is a human right. And not just any water, but clean and consistent water. Access to clean water goes far beyond just keeping a human alive, but seeps into nearly every aspect of a person’s life.
However, there is unfortunately not an infinite amount of water to be used. Water is precious, and should be treated like so. Water has such a far reach, and such a lasting impact. Water can sustain a human’s life, but can also sustain a nation’s environment, public health, an economy, and even a positive quality of life.
To understand the full scope of what water does for us, one must understand its most basic functions. Water keeps plants and animals alive. Because of this, water too keeps humans alive. When humans are alive and thriving they contribute to their community. Through their community they are a part of a larger group, or a collection of communities. This collection of communities turns into a nation. And those nations turn into a world. This world spins round and round day in and day out. Now one can attribute this success to humans, or one can attribute this success to water.
The water that was so very delicately placed on this earth continues to be the backbone of everything. But this water can be exploited just as easily as it can be praised. When water is not replenished, and water sources are contaminated the cycle quickly falls apart. Thousands of gallons of oil are leaked into the ocean? It kills the fish, it kills the surrounding habitats, and it kills at least one sea animal’s primary food source. It also decreases the amount of fish available for humans to consume, and even the fish that still exist are likely contaminated.
Words cannot begin to comprehensively describe the importance of clean water to a society. One major aspect of a functioning society is a healthy economy. Lack of access to clean water can hurt an economy. Water helps humans to be productive, which creates economic returns. Without this, and economy can enter a period of recession. An economic downturn can result in thousands of people without access to necessities like, food, shelter, and healthcare.
With that being said, water is a necessity and a privilege. Water can even stimulate the flow of nutrients and hormones that generate endorphins in our brain and leave you feeling happy. The benefits of water are immeasurable. That is why it is gravely important to protect water supply, and to ensure that every person has access to an uninterrupted supply of clean, potable, water.
