Water for Life
I used to take water for granted. By that I mean I didn’t really think about where the water I drank or took a shower with came from. Like most people in the US I suppose I was just glad that it was there. This all changed after I got my first job out of grad school. I got the chance to work in the Water & Sewer department for the City in which I lived. I spent many years there mapping the water system and learned all about where the water came from (a local creek) and how the water gets to us from there. I found out that there was this extensive underground network of pipes of many sizes, valves, tanks, pumps and a whole lot of chemicals in-between. I watched as the guys went out early in the morning to either install or repair these pipes, saw my friend run around the city taking water samples to make sure that the water that we drink everyday was safe. I began to see the huge responsibility it is to ensure that we get safe drinking water. I gladly put those pieces of pipes and values and tanks on an electronic map everyday for about 8 years coz it was all worth it. Yet, many people in the World does not have access to clean, safe drinking water. Last night I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Derek Chignell chairman of a group called Water For Life who are concerned about providing clean water to developing nations. He told us the story of his adventures in providing safe drinking water using a rain catchment system on Fanning Island . The rain catchment system is simple to do, easy to maintain and very effective. The water is clean, and, with correct storage, can be kept clean for long periods. Anyway, he showed slides after slides of the island, the people, and of course the rain catchment system itself. He expounded on some of the challenges they faced and some initial failures during the tank building process. It was neat for me to see how what I had worked with for years could be used in such a simple way for the saving of many lives and was one of the best talks I had heard about integrating faith and meeting the needs of others. Some Dr. Chignell’s story can be found in this article but Water for Life is currently working on a website of their own. I was glad that I was a part of the hearing of that story and once again I’m reminded to be thankful for the clean, safe water that the City in which I live do provide and am glad that I played a part in using my skills to map the system. Who knows what adventures lie ahead. BTW Dr. Chignell is looking for a portable water testing kit that he can take with him in the field and get quick, solid results. If you know of a company that sells such a kit or can provide one let me know and I’ll pass on the information.
