How’s your water?

Warning: This is a re-run column from May of 2016, but it’s still timely because the need has gotten worse, at least in some countries.

The reason for the re-run is threefold: First, we’re planning to leave first thing in the morning (when I normally sit down to write these columns) for an RV trip to Virginia. We’re going to participate in a family member’s graduation. Second, as I was scanning through old columns I could use to re-publish, I was reminded of the new well we recently installed at our cabin in the Pennsylvania mountains that hasn’t had water since it was built almost a hundred years ago (except for the nearby stream!). And third, that cabin is just one mile, as the crow flies, from where Flight 93 went down in Shanksville, PA. 

That means this column will be re-published just one day before our 24th remembrance of that tragic day that changed so much of what we used to take for granted here in the USA. So, here’s a look back to May of 2016 while we were still living on the farm with its own well (Oh, how I miss that clear fresh water that didn’t require any “City water” treatment!):

If there’s anything we take for granted in the USA, especially here in the southeast, it’s our pure and plentiful fresh water. We turn on the tap and bingo, fresh water. Or we go by a farm and think nothing of seeing a pivot irrigation system spraying out hundreds of gallons a minute to insure our crops don’t suffer from drought as our forefather farmers’ crops did.

Last week I got a wakeup call over our water system. The well tank went out. At least it was leaking so badly that I was concerned we might lose our water supply any minute. I can’t say I’m surprised because the date inscribed on the outside well in the back yard is 1932. As I understand it from our Vet, who used to live here as a boy in the summers with his uncle, the house was originally built without indoor plumbing. And the original water system was a hand pump in the kitchen.

So I did what most people in my shoes would do: I called the well guy who said “I’ll be over after lunch”. That was Wednesday. Same story on Thursday and again on Friday. So I finally decided I’d tackle it myself. Armed with the fresh knowledge of having watched a couple other guys on YouTube (another marvel of our Tech world) change out their tanks, I proceeded to the hardware store and bought a tank and the fittings I thought I’d need to re-do the plumbing. About eight hours later, and four more trips to the hardware store, beautiful fresh water was flowing from our taps again. From now on I won’t take it so for granted, at least for awhile.

As I was pondering what to write this week, the thought occurred to me that I might be able to use this little “water event” to help make the world a little better for some folks who don’t enjoy the clean water we do. For some it’s a luxury and for others it’s a matter of life and death. So I spoke with my daughter who runs quarterly medical clinics in Senegal Africa thinking they may do water projects also, but they don’t.  She suggested I consider donating to World Vision because they have an ongoing clean water program for third-world peoples around the world. So, if you’d like to join me in installing a well in a community that really needs it, click on this website; the “donate button” is just one more click from there:  http://www.worldvision.org/our-impact/clean-water. 

Here’s a statement from their website: More than 1,000 children under age 5 die every day from diseases related to lack of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. But we can help end the global water crisis within our lifetimes. As the world’s leading nongovernmental provider of clean water in the developing world, World Vision reaches one new person with clean water every 10 seconds, and one new person with a hand washing facility as well. We drill wells and establish other water access points, help communities improve sanitation, and support families to adopt healthy hygiene behaviors.

I can’t remember enjoying a clean shower at the end of the day any more than Friday night after installing the new well tank. Can you imagine what a first time ever clean shower would feel like to someone in a community that just got their first good well?

Thanks for reading All About Seniors… see you next week!

Bill Milby is a Director of Visiting Angels® of Central Georgia, a non-medical, living assistance service for seniors. If you have questions or comments about this column you can reach him at william.mercylink@gmail.com or search for us at  https://www.facebook.com/VisitingAngelsofCentralGa.