Running Water is Significant for Our Life

We can't live without water. Water is just as important as oxygen. Whether it's for cooking, bathing, or drinking. When we are done with this water, where does it go down the drain? Chris mentioned in his paper: shower water, as well as water from sinks, toilets, and other drains, enters the drainage system and is cleaned in a septic tank or wastewater treatment facility. Septic systems naturally purify water, which then sinks into the ground, whereas water treatment plants clean it with chemicals before reusing it (Chris, 2023)(1). In some cases, treated wastewater can also be used for irrigation or even for recharging groundwater. 

I live in Fitchburg, and the water use and regulation are all managed by Fitchburg Utility District. Fitchburg Utility District, presumably a part of the City of Fitchburg government, would generally be responsible for providing and maintaining utility services for the local community.  The Fitchburg Utility District is a self-sustaining entity owned by the City of Fitchburg and governed by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR)(2). 

Imagine what would happen if we didn't have running water in our lives. First of all, we can't pay attention to personal hygiene. For example, washing our faces, brushing our teeth, and showering becomes difficult. This reminds me of when I was camping in last year. In the camp, there was no running water, we only lived on the drinking water that we could buy in the supermarket with us. Those buckets of water supported our food and washing. And you had to need another person to help you slowly pour out the water when you wash up. At that time, the importance of running water was deeply felt. 

            Second, the lack of running water can threaten people's health. Without running water, people may need to obtain drinking water from other sources, such as lake water, and precipitation. This water may not be properly treated and may contain bacteria, viruses, parasites, or harmful chemicals. On the other hand, people can feel dehydrated. This is when resistance decreases and one is more likely to receive viruses.

Eventually, my life would become very inconvenient. If I lived solely on the lake water. I would have to filter this water before use to ensure the water is healthy. And save a lot of lake water at once to support my life for at least one day.

Conserving water is necessary not only for me but also for society. The freshwater resources available for human use on Earth are limited. Although there is a large amount of water on the earth, the majority of it is salt water and only a small portion is fresh water. Moreover, only a small portion of fresh water is directly available for human use. Therefore, if we do not conserve water, we may face a serious water shortage problem. Overuse and waste of water resources can cause serious damage to the environment. For example, over-exploitation of groundwater may cause the ground to sink and the drying up of rivers can damage the ecological environment and affect the survival of wildlife.

1. https://highshower.com/where-does-shower-water-go/ 

2.  https://www.fitchburgwi.gov/150/Water