The One, the Only, H20

By: Stephanie Becerra

No blue, no green. No green, no life. I believe that almost everyone in the world has love and respect for water, in one way or another. It could be in the form of breathtaking oceans, rivers, streams, and lakes- or perhaps of a powerful storm- or a refreshing glass of water. In the end we all need it to survive, life as we know it and life itself would cease to exist. Why then do we disrespect this incredible substance so much? It is the universal solvent, dissolving more substances than any other liquid! Shapeless and formless, it can fill and penetrate almost any crevice in the world. It can exist in three different states, as a solid, as a liquid, and as a gas. Remarkable! It is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, both by weight and volume. The list of interesting facts about water goes on and on. Perhaps if people knew more about water and its current state in our world today, they would have so much more respect for it.

​

As we know water covers over half of the plant, approximately 71 percent, the ocean holding about 96.5 percent of that water. All water on Earth is connected by the water cycle. We must safeguard our water ways to ensure the balance of the water cycle is not disturbed. Water is a precious resource and if we allow it to become too polluted or depleted, we will face dire consequences. One of the biggest threats water faces is plastic and trash in the ocean. According to the EPA. “Trash, packaging, and improperly disposed waste from sources on land accounts for 80% of the marine debris found on beaches during cleanups and surveys.” That means that when you litter near a water way or even far from one, your trash is being swept up and away into the ocean by wind or rain. I see it all the time someone throwing trash out of their car window on the freeway or someone throwing their trash straight onto the ground even when there is a trash can nearby. Why do people so easily disregard the health of the planet as their own? When someone throws trash on the floor it is now a threat to your very own existence, believe it or not. You have now added more pollution into your very own environment. That pollution will make its way into the soil that is used to grow your food or the water that is also used to grow your food, water for recreation, drinking, bathing, or washing clothes and dishes. You would not throw trash in your bed or into a glass of water you are about to drink, would you?
Connecting the dots is the most important thing we can do to protect our water. All the water on Earth stays on Earth and that is all we have. If we diminish the quality of our water then we will no longer have clean beaches, streams, lakes, rivers, or ponds to enjoy. We will no longer have clean drinking water. The price of water will go up and there will be a shortage. However, there are many ways you can look after the water here on Earth and many ways you can protect it. For one, do not litter and encourage others to do the same. Also hold those accountable who do litter. I know you might feel intimidated to speak up against litter, but if you do not, nothing will change. Attend beach clean ups, start your own neighborhood clean ups, and keep bags in your car to pick up trash when you see it. If you are afraid to pick up trash with your own hands, use gloves or trash grabbers. I bought two for less than fifteen bucks at Costco.
The biggest pollutant that enters our waterways is plastic. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation reports that the use of plastic is increasing and is expected to double over the next two decades and only 14% of all plastic packaging is collected for recycling. That means that a great deal of plastic escapes into the environment. If this trend continues there could be more plastic than fish (by weight) in the ocean by 2050. Not only will plastics take over our ocean, they will infiltrate other water sources. What we must do besides keeping trash out of our environment, is to reduce or even eliminate our use of plastics. The top ten items found in beach clean ups are cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic beverage bottles, plastic bottle caps, straws and stirrers, other plastic bags, grocery bags, glass beverage bottles, beverage cans, and plastic cups and plates. If you were using a personal reusable bottle, food container, or tote bag you would not just leave it behind, you paid good money for that. You picked it out yourself, it means more to you. By switching from single-use plastic or plastic in general. You will value the things that literally hold more value than cheap and convenient plastic. What may be convenient today will be incredibly inconvenient tomorrow. Make the upgrade for you and your planet.
Do not just stop at reducing your plastic footprint and keeping plastic and trash from entering the environment. Visit websites that promote water conservation and protection. Stay informed and support those who support clean water for all. Organizations to check out are: The Ocean Conservancy, Eco Watch, The Ocean Clean Up, Mission-Blue, Plastic Pollution Coalition, Surfrider Foundation, and Conservation International, just to name a few. Only 2.5 percent of water on Earth is freshwater and just 1 percent of it is easily accessible. Water is a precious resource we must protect and conserve. W.H. Auden once said, “Thousands have lived without love, none without water.”

​