Clean Water: A Right, Not A Privilege

by Julia Meehan Ames, Iowa, a community fortunate enough to have access to clean drinking water — so prosperous that they have been ranked as one of the best city water facilities in 2019. Yet neighboring states, marginal communities and other parts of the world struggle to receive clean water. Around the world, two billion people lack access to clean water, and by 2030, billions will go without access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services, according to UNICEF, an agency of the United Nations responsible for humanitarian and development aid to children worldwide. UNICEF estimates that three in 10 people worldwide could not wash their hands with soap and water during the pandemic.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Nearly half of the world — 3.6 billion — lacks safe, sanitation water. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2025, half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas.

While individuals in Ames, Iowa, enjoy their glass of ice water, warm showers and sanitized hands, others face extreme opposites — no access to safe drinking water and no access to harmless water to wash hands or take a shower. It’s not every day that someone who has access to safe water thinks twice about the water they are about to consume. Water is a right, not a privilege. Yet this is a norm for others, a habit they have been taught. Communities facing disparities with water have been conditioned to avoid contaminated water and substitute for something safer.

For Camila Almeida, a Ph.D. student studying food science and engineering at Iowa State University, her experience in Ames with water is far dissimilar to the water conditions back home in Minhas Derais, Brazil.

“Many cities in Brazil have a hard water problem with high mineral content, such as iron, calcium, and magnesium, that give you health problems with your kidney,” Almeida said. “There are places that deliver gallons of water for drinking. I have even bought a Brita filtered water bottle.” Water pollution affects Americans far beyond what meets the eye. Of the 25 million Americans who live in the

clean water: a right,not a privilege worst public water systems, water pollution affects many people of color, specifically 23% Hispanic Americans. Contaminated water is off-limits because of what it can transmit — diseases. Such diseases include diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, polio and typhoid. As said by the Environmental Protection Agency, there are dangerous contaminates that trigger health effects like gastrointestinal illnesses, nervous system or reproductive effects and chronic diseases such as cancer. “In some cities, the current problem is the water is too heavy,” Almeida said. “You will be able to wash your hair, shower and clean your hands, but when you think about the liters you drink daily, the heavy water would be too much for your body.” According to the World Health Organization, polluted drinking water causes 485,000 diarrheal deaths each year. The lack of clean water affects a person’s community. It contributes to the 3.575 million deaths related to diseases caused by unsafe water every year. Water disparities are just one consequence of what else they can face beyond unsafe water. Those who succumb to diseases from contaminated water are occasionally the primary income earners for their families, and losing the head of their household can put the family into severe poverty, which tends to impact generations to follow. Every individual plays a role in this issue. As the old saying goes, be the change you wish to see. Like any issue around the world, educating ourselves on the issue at hand is the first line of action. It is one thing to know that there is unclean water, but it’s another to acknowledge the policies. Educate ourselves and educate elected officials by raising awareness of the community’s disparities. According to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), unsafe water hardly receives funding and media attention unless it is as extreme as Flint, MichiganMI. Put an end to the contaminated water conditions in communities near and far by supporting organizations like UNICEF — supports children facing and bringing up water discrepancies. Get involved with organizations safeguarding the earth’s health, particularly with communities like NRDC. Donate to nonprofit drinking water causes that build wells and sanitation facilities in schools like Drop In The Bucket or causes that educate young individuals on the water crisis like Thirst Project.

lemon sautéed kale lemon sautéed kale

sautéed lemon kale

by Melia Stackis Active Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Servings: 4

Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil ½ red onion, finely sliced 1 small tomato, diced 3 garlic cloves, minced ¼ tsp chili flakes ½ tsp oregano Salt and pepper to taste 1 small bunch of kale, de-stemmed and cut into 2-inch bits 3 tbsp water ¼ lemon Directions 01 In a cast-iron pan, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes until it begins to soften. 02 Add the tomato, garlic, chili flakes, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes until the tomato is soft, gently tossing the mix. 03 Without stirring, add the kale on top of the tomato mixture and 3 tablespoons of water. Cover the skillet for 2-3 minutes to steam until the kale wilts and turns bright green. 04 Remove lid and stir until combined. Squeeze the lemon over the mixture, toss it again, and plate.