Safe drinking water is essential to humans and other life forms even though it provides no calories or organic nutrients. Approximately one billion people still lack access to safe water.
In the USA we have water everywhere we go. It is a constant item that rarely we think about not having. Yes, when we are thirsty we go get a bottle of water from our refrigerators, go to the faucet and run some water, drive through a fast food restaurant and ask for an ice water. How often do we ever think about it not being there for us?
This past summer while in Ethiopia, I experienced a taste of what it is like on a regular basis for most people in this country to not have access to clean water. Unlike many homes, this compound has running water in the kitchen and bathrooms along with an outside faucet. The previous year we had to fetch water from an area on the other side of the compound. It was somewhat inconvenient but water was plentiful. My first week at the compound this year, we were without running water for three days. Although I had my bottled water to drink which was purchased at a small shop we were limited in the amount we had for bathing, flushing, cleaning and cooking. Fortunately, there had been some water stored in some rain barrels for a time like this. We made it through the three days without too much discomfort.
A month later, we went 8 days without any water in the compound. Although we had prepared by filling up every container that would hold water, it didn’t last through the eight days. We had to find other ways to get our water. Although I had money to buy water from other areas and have it transported, I reflected on how many other families were not as fortunate as myself. When their supply runs out they either go without or they use what little money they have to go and get water.
People, who live outside the towns that have a water supply, travel for miles to obtain their water. They often travel by foot or donkey and fill a 5 gallon container with water and then return home with it. In the village of Denkaka there are two compounds that have a well. At any time during the day you can walk by and see the donkeys and horse carts waiting in line to get their supply of water. As a foreigner this water is still not safe to drink. In the village there is no place to go and buy a bottle of safe drinking water. I am very thankful for the water supply I have in the USA.
