Clean Water: A Precious Necessity

For a necessity of life, water sure can be a natural resource that many of us take for granted. We may think if we live in a favorable climate area where it is abundant most of the year, that when it falls out of the sky regularly, it should, therefore, be free. Outside of the United States, however, a limited access to potable water remains a serious health threat in many developing countries.

Water-related diseases are the single most cause (50%) of preventable human sicknesses and health-related deaths in the world. While unclean water supplies are easily linked to health threats, another health threat that is propagated and practiced in modern, technologically advanced cultures is that by drinking mostly other forms of altered water based beverages we are meeting our body's daily fluid intake requirements of water. This health threat causes even more sickness and disease in becoming chronically dehydrated, so between the two, the incidence of water-related sickness and death is probably much higher.

Clean water is a special commodity that is now beginning to shrink rapidly world wide. In the U.S., aging pipes in municipal water system infrastructures and in older homes are causing major problems. Mismanagement of the nation's drinking water utilities have subsidized this service with other revenues and have failed to charge customers accordingly, by not recognizing how costly it has become to treat , move around, store, and distribute water. This, in turn, is leaving a burden of $500 billion over the next 20 years, to fix and maintain drinking water and waste water treatment systems. This estimate is a conservative one, as it will likely take more time and more money than this figure suggests.

There are many other threats to our water reserves such as climate changes, over use of toxic chemicals in agriculture, industry, and mainstream medicine, and unsound land developing practices The largest threat of all to maintaining clean water reserves, however, is in the general population's attitude, or lack of concern of the matter. And, while it may make sense to make everyone pay for cleaner drinking water, there are many people in this world that, due to economic restraints, should not be denied a fundamental staple of life. Everyone, no matter who you are or what your economic status in life is, should have the right to exist, and that largely depends on safe, clean water.

Water is the single most essential element to life as we know it, next to air, we absolutely must have it to survive and so does everything else. Water is truly everywhere, and still, most people do not understand the important role it plays inside the human body.

Water makes up more than two thirds of human body weight. The brain is more than 85%, blood is 80%, and lungs about 90%. A mere 2 % drop in your body's daily requirement of water can result in symptoms of dehydration like:

1.fuzzy, short-term memory problems
2.trouble doing basic math
3.difficulty focusing on small print
4.day time fatigue and moodiness

It is estimated that about three quarters of Americans have mild to chronic dehydration problems. That is pretty scary, considering we live in a developed country where there is supposed to be adequate supplies of clean water.

Water is just as necessary to the mechanics of the human body, and other living things, as gas and oil are to your automobile. All cell and organ functions depend on it.

1.Water is the body's lubricant.
2.Water forms the base of saliva.
3.Water forms the fluid that surrounds the joints.
4.Water regulates body temperature.
5.Water alleviates constipation, replenishes fluid loss during bouts of diarrhea, aids in digestion, flushes out toxins
6.Water regulates cell metabolism.

Due to this daily bodily maintenance requirement, water plays a pivotal role in the prevention of disease. By drinking your daily requirement each day, you reduce your risk dramatically of developing many different problematic diseases.

Cleaning up and maintaining our precious water reserves involves major behavioral changes that require a greater awareness to vigilantly fight for the removal of potential contaminates from our water resources. As humans, we instinctively know that clean water equals healthier plant foods, animal foods, and healthier human bodies for our continued survival on this planet.

Cleaner and safer water begins with the knowledge that you can make a difference just by becoming aware that there is a problem. Working together with others who take this issue seriously by helping others secure access to healthy water is a universal need, a basic human right, and a crusade worth fighting for. The world's health, people you love, as well as your own health depends on your willing attitude to get involved, please make it one of your priorities starting today!