water

Overview

“When there is no clean water left, our tears will fall as oil.” — Autumn Peltier, Chief Water Protector for the Anishinabek Nation

Water is life. We need it to survive, yet this simple substance is often neglected, abused, and taken for granted. We all deserve access to clean, safe drinking water, yet not all of us have it. 

Water covers 70% of our planet, but only 2.5% of it is freshwater. Of that 2.5%, only a little over 1.2% is on the surface and able to support life. With that tiny percentage available, the strain on global freshwater supply is intensified by the uncertainties of climate change and pollution. Extreme weather patterns, including droughts and floods, mean billions of people are at risk of water insecurity – not having enough clean water to drink, farm, and maintain hygiene. Today, over 2 billion people lack access to adequate water sanitation and 4 billion at risk of suffering from water scarcity. This all happens while pollution continues to fill our streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans.

80% of pollution to marine environments comes from land. It occurs when harmful chemicals or microorganisms contaminate a body of water, rendering it toxic and harmful to plants, animals, and humans. Agricultural fertilizer, pesticide runoff, and industrial and sewage waste are common water pollutants. Another form of water pollution occurs with the regularity of oil spills.

Since 2010, in the United States, over 11.5 million gallons of oil have spilled from pipeline leaks. These spills disproportionately harm communities of color, particularly Indigenous communities and their water sources. Tribal nations, community activists, and environmental organizations in Minnesota are currently opposing the construction of the Line 3 pipeline because it will threaten land, water, and people. Line 3 would transport one of the dirtiest types of oil, tar sands crude oil, and emit as much carbon pollution as 50 coal plants. Many oppose construction of this pipeline because it will run through tribal lands and threaten Anishinaabe culture. Wild rice is an integral part of the Anishinaabe people, culture, and livelihoods, and grows in lakes and creeks. When oil inevitably leaks from this pipeline, it will damage surrounding water sources and potentially harm hundreds of acres of wild rice. Water Protectors, led mainly by Indigenous women, continue to fight for the protection of these vital sources of water. 

On November 20, 2021, the Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage facility on O’ahu leaked 14,000 gallons of a mixture of fuel and water, but the Navy claimed that the drinking water was safe. However, shortly after, nearby residents started to express concern over the smell of fuel in their drinking water and felt sick after ingesting it. This forced over 3,000 people to evacuate their homes in early December and frustrated residents at the military response as families struggled to receive assistance and find housing due to this water crisis. It is later confirmed that there were levels of petroleum detected in the water supply that were 350 times the level of safety for drinking water. After months of hearings and rallying from the community, in March 2022, the Department of Defense announced the shutdown of its Red Hill facility. However, it remains imperative to keep the military accountable of its actions and follow through with this process. 

Alongside pollution, many marginalized communities face increasing water threats and crises. Residents in Jackson, Mississippi were forced to live without access to clean water for over a month in February of 2021 after being hit by a winter storm. Approximately 82% of the residents in Jackson are Black and disproportionately experience environmental racism and injustice. Privilege plays an enormous role in who has access to potable water. The Biden Administration has pledged to invest in and improve infrastructure that is failing marginalized communities. 

43% of white Americans say that they are “very confident” in their tap water, while only 24% of Black Americans and 19% of Hispanic Americans indicate the same degree of confidence, according to a recent survey.

75% of Black Americans are more likely to live near polluting facilities than the general population, per environmental advocacy group, Clean Water Action. In addition, Hispanic Americans are twice as likely to live in communities where the drinking water violates contamination laws. These communities are often crippled by poor infrastructure that’s only worsening due to the pandemic.

In this country and around the world, clean, safe drinking water means safety, survival, and hope for both people and the planet. For many people, that does not come out of the tap, but need not resort to wasteful, toxic plastic bottles either. Boxed Water, is creating a world where access to safe drinking water does not mean a negative impact on the planet. Positive change is possible, and Boxed Water’s industry-shifting work proves how businesses can be a force for good, for public health, for sustainability, and for equity. Our actions and choices as citizens and consumers can and must respect the resources our planet provides and leave the Earth better than we found it.         

Water continues to be underappreciated, despite the fact that communal and societal stability depend upon it. The United States is second highest on the list of global water usage, only behind the United Arab Emirates. The average person in the United States uses about 156 gallons of water per day. For perspective, the average person in France uses 77 gallons, in India, that number falls to 38 gallons, and in Mali, that number drops to just 3 gallons.

We are called upon to protect the source of clean water, and center indigenous communities who steward the land and all natural resources. Indigenous peoples and First Nations have particularly strong relationships with water. Many traditions depend on water and this symbiotic relationship has persevered for thousands of years. Water provides transportation, food, connection, and life. Indigenous peoples continue to protect water from human threats and advocate for safety, access and rights.

There are many ways that you can protect and appreciate water. One is to reduce plastic bottle waste and opt for reusables. Question how you hydrate, as our nonprofit partner, Lonely Whale, encourages — with tools to address plastic bottle overuse in the name of ‘convenience,’ contributing to the estimated 5 trillion plastic pieces currently in the ocean. Alternatives to single-use plastic, like safe and reusable stainless steel water bottles (by Klean Kanteen and others) reduce waste and save money. Before filling up, check to see if the drinking water is safe with EWG’s Tap Water database! 

Research and support water activists and find ways to protect watersheds in and around your community, in addition to making a habit of picking up trash along ditches, streams, and other locales that lead to or are near water sources. The Water Protector Legal Collective provides legal support to protect the land, water, and Indigenous rights. You can also contact local representatives to urge them to support water protection in your community.

Finally, take time to appreciate water. Whether it is the glass of water next to you or the lake, river or ocean where you feel peace and calm, recognize the importance of this invaluable resource.