The Importance of Clean Water for a Healthy Life
With the spread of the Corona Virus, all of us are living in a time of uncertainty. It is not just a virus that affects the immune system, but it can turn fatal for those individuals whose bodies have weaker defense mechanisms.
Water is a fundamental need of every living object. It is of critical importance, and access to clean water is a fundamental right of every human being. Water accounts for more than 70% of the human body and plays an essential part in the growth and strengthening of the human body and in countering different types of diseases.
If the water is contaminated, there can be severe repercussions. It can damage an individual’s immune system and expose them to multiple threats. Some of these threats can be life-endangering, especially in the current circumstances when there is a virus waiting to catch us off-guard.
Drinking Water
Getting enough water every day is important for your health. Healthy people meet their fluid needs by drinking when thirsty and drinking with meals. Most of your fluid needs are met through the water and beverages you drink. However, you can get some fluids from the foods that you eat. For example, broth soups and foods with high water content such as celery, tomatoes, or melons can contribute to fluid intake.
The Benefits of Water
Water helps your body:
– Keep your temperature normal
– Lubricate and cushion joints
– Protect your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues
– Get rid of waste through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements
– Maintain the Balance of Body Fluids
– Control Calories
– Energize Muscles
– Keep Skin Looking Good
– Helps Your Kidneys, and
– Maintain Normal Bowel Function.
The Flint Water Crisis
The Flint water crisis is mind-boggling: the story of environmental injustice and bad decision-making has been a topic of constant debate. The crisis started in 2014, in the U.S. state of Michigan when the city changed its drinking water supply from Detroit’s system to the Flint River in a cost-saving move.
Allegedly, the governor of Michigan was aware of the fact that the water supply is full of toxins due to a lack of the necessary corrosion control, yet he did not take any action against it. At the time many news agencies published reports against this incident and call it a horrendous crime against humanity. In a city with such a small population, more than 128 deaths have already been reported.
The contaminated water exposed the residents to:
– More lead exposure;
– High level of chlorine;
– Bacterial risks; the risk of legionella outbreak, a deadly water-borne bacteria found in the river water;
– Carcinogen risks: cancer-causing chemicals (trihalomethanes or TTHM) which are by-products of the chlorination of water that was done to kill the bacteria.
Inadequate treatment and testing of the water resulted in a series of major water quality and health issues for Flint residents. Issues were chronically ignored, overlooked, and discounted by government officials even when numerous complaints were reported that the foul-smelling, discolored, and off-tasting water piped into Flint homes for 18 months was causing skin rashes, hair loss, and itchy skin.
Years later the illnesses expanded to lung problems, kidney problems, liver problems, memory loss, etc. They are ill because of lead, dangerous toxins & chemicals, in their tap water coming from the river. We are talking about men, women, the elderly, and children! According to different reports, almost 6.3% of children present in the city have high blood pressure levels. It gives us an idea of the amount of damage that the water has done to the people.
With their already low immune system is it very hard to imagine how they can survive this pandemic? All of them are compromised and fall under the high-risk group that should avoid COVID-19 at all costs.
And let’s not forget the environmental impact of that toxic water from the river on the ocean and on the soil that is used for growing produce.
The documentary “Flushing Flint” by Jordan Chariton, founder, and CEO of Status Coup, is an investigative journalism piece that shows through testimonies and verifiable information about what happened. Authorities lied that the water was drinkable when it was not. It was an issue that should have been resolved but it remained unsolved because of ineptitude and corruption.
The residents were told they would get clean drinkable water by the then President, 6 years later they still do not have clean water and must depend on filtered water or limited bottled water.
In April 2020 new evidence emerged that revealed that the government knew of the issues when they said they did not and that government officials were covering it by silencing the residents of Flint that came forward.
Michael Moore, the producer of the documentary “Planet of the Humans” and self-proclaimed environmental activist, has criticized and publicly shed a light on the Flint Water Crisis in the past but he has not rung the bells and screams about the new evidence on the first week it was reported as you would expect from an honest ally of the cause. They are literally hurting their people and the environment. Instead of briefly addressing this issue on a podcast why not make a big campaign? Is it because Flint only has poor residents? Where are the influential environmentalist and activists? This matter is a big environmental scandal!
It’s strange to see how quiet the media has been. A few activists were raising awareness, but I am assuming they did not have the skills and resources to make more noise. It’s just strange how in some instances one cause can get so much attention and in other cases when it’s about a “life and death” scenario you hear crickets. Nobody is worried about the sick babies, toddlers, and young children that grow up in this environment. They have toxins in their blood and need help. How can you expect them to be the future and build up their community when you made it impossible for them to have a healthy life?
The excuse that there is no money to replace the pipes is inexcusable when you do have money to bail out the banks and other major corporations. Not to mention that the fed can easily provide the money.
Final Thoughts
If we focus on the water conditions at a global level, there is an uncountable number of people who still in 2020 do not have access to clean water. Almost every other river or water stream is contaminated because of the disposal of chemical waste from production plants in open areas, which eventually creates different types of toxins and contaminates the water.
The entire world is living in a difficult time, and everyone must have access to clean water to, at least, be able to rebuild their immune system. According to many doctors, a stronger immune system is a critical component of decreasing the effects of the virus.
It is essential that the governments of all the countries of the world take the necessary steps and provide their citizens with access to clean water. Why? The human body will not be able to strengthen its defense mechanism and collapse in the fight against the virus and other deadly diseases. Therefore we can conclude that water is an important source that adds value to a healthy lifestyle.
Clean Water is the New Gold and we all must be able to obtain it as a basic human right. The human right to safe drinking water was first recognized by the UN General Assembly and the Human Rights Council as part of binding international law in 2010.
In the case where people don’t have access to clean drinking water, should they demand it from their government officials? Should they protest? It is a very difficult situation to be in. Just imagine if it was you and your family.
Let’s help in any way we can. We all may not know government officials but we all have a voice. Let’s amplify the message online till it reaches its destination.
.
Sources
Exclusive audio shows Governor Rick Snyder fixer lied https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2020/04/23/exclusive-audio-shows-governor-rick-snyders-fixer-lied-about-warnings-snyder-and-his-administration-received-on-toxic-flint-water-attem
United Nations. 2010. Human Rights to Water and Sanitation. https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights/
Michigan Ex-Governor knew about the Flint Toxic Water https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/z3bdp9/michigans-ex-gov-rick-snyder-knew-about-flints-toxic-waterand-lied-about-it
Water Health https://www.freedrinkingwater.com/water-education/water-health.htm