Water is a Human Right

"The human right to drinking water is fundamental to life and health. Sufficient and safe drinking water is a precondition for the realization of human rights."

— United Nations 'General Comment' on the Right to Water. November 27, 2002

"The simple fact is, this model of privatization doesn’t work. You cannot marry the profit motive to something like water or air which people need to survive. We have to take this notion of fresh water out of the market place and say that it belongs to the earth, it belongs to all species, it belongs to future generations, and no one has the right to commodify it for personal gain.

— Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, March 2004

When I ran for Congress, I was endorsed by the Sierra Club. Running for office and learning the details behind the issues important to my district was a profound and deeply moving experience. It made me love Thomas Jefferson and the citizen legislative process even more. Of course, I became even more an environmental zealot. And, it solidified my belief in the importance of our environment in the well-being of society. So, I recycle, buy used / salvage first and do what I can in my Western life to be mindful of the effect I have on my surroundings.

Which brings me to bottled water.

It took me a while to tumble to the importance of companies encouraging distrust in municipal water supplies in this country. If people feel the tap water is not safe to drink, their anxiety makes them the perfect consumers. The large multinational corporations fan the flames of that fear and offer the solution. Safe. Pure. "Bottled" water. Water you can trust . . . for sale, of course.

Sheesh! It's always about money.

I willingly drink my tap water. It's delicious. I've been known to come in my front door, head directly to my kitchen, throw my keys on the counter, turn on the tap and drink directly from my hand. When I'd come home from college and do the same thing, my mother would say, "we do have glasses, you know."

Which brings me to artesian well water.

Many years ago, a friend of mine told me about an artesian spring in Seattle. It's part of a local water district. People would line up to fill their jugs and take them home. Well, apparently the local water district wasn't too happy to have people not paying for water so they capped the well.

And . . . the old adage proved true!

When you have a point to make with someone, the universe has a bigger point to make with you or as I like to call it . . . the cosmic banana peel. The capped well refused to stay capped. It continued to flood and make for a very unhappy water district. So, the water district capitulated. And, better than that, they built a nice little cover so people could come to the well in any weather, at any time of the day or night and take the water.

Oh, and yes, it's still free.

As I filled my three 5 gallon jugs this morning and brought them home to my cooler in the pantry, I was reminded again how rare clean water is and how difficult it is to find in many parts of the world. I am more in awe of the lengths people go to get clean water. Five gallons of water weighs about 42#. Imagine walking miles there and back to bring fresh water to your family.

Another reason not to commodify water.

Do I still drink out of the tap? Absolutely.

But, I love knowing there's a little well that continually flows; a little well where the water is clean, clear and . . . free.

Day 34 Everyday Grateful ~
Fresh water at the well, 

the morning with Linsi planning 

her reception and lunch. 

Ramses came along for the ride

 and got to spend some time

 in a fenced yard! 

A good time was had by all

Sunny, bright, still. Happy.