Connect the dots on Iowa’s water quality

Linda Scarth, guest columnist

The many stories about water and pollution, climate, weather, fracking, war and politics should startle people and governments into connecting the dots or connecting the drops. Clean water is essential for not just life but intelligent life. Here are some examples of the dots/drops.

The politically caused lead polluted water inflicted on Flint, Michigan does real damage to humans and other animals. The pollution in Flint is said to be just an example of the increase in lead and other pollutants in water systems across the country. Consider the future costs of caring for lead damaged children now and when they become adults. What high paying jobs will those damaged by lead be able to fulfill? Is this good for the economy?

Weather is just one part of climate. Flooding and droughts change what food and clean water is available in ever changing locations around the world. When these weather events become persistent and the norm, they become the climate for that area. The Southwestern U.S. is very vulnerable to drought and forecast to become more so. A recent study found that on a monthly basis, two-thirds of the world's population suffer from lack of water during some periods of the year.

Many of the ongoing conflicts in the world are caused by efforts to control resources including water. With a growing population and less water along with often quasi-religious political excesses to incite discontent, the dots/drops are further confounded. As the world's water table is dropping, it seems irresponsible to use this precious resource for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on oil and gas fields when other sources of energy should and could be developed. And then when the chemically infused water (protected by trade secrets) is put back in the ground, it threatens to further contaminate the remaining aquifers. Transporting any oil and gas, but especially fracked oil, is another risk to water, soil, people and animals along the way.

Clean water and clean air, along with productive soil, are necessary for continued habitation of the world's land area. Desertification, rising sea levels, acidification of the oceans, draining and contamination of aquifers, damaged rivers and water supplies, damage done to people and other living beings, plus the costs of efforts to control these desecrations must be enough to encourage all people and governments to connect the dots/drops. And having done so, we must all get to work attempting to keep Earth a habitable planet.

' Linda Scarth is a photographer, naturalist and retired academic who lives in Cedar Rapids. Comments: scarth@infionline.net