Simply stated, water is life. We need good potable water to survive, regardless of where we live. Whether it is in a rural country setting or a city, small or large, water is an essential element for our existence.

Water is vital for us all and we all deserve it.

Martin County citizens have had many issues with getting good water service for many years.

Just last week, Mingo County residents had the same issues. The water plant at Naugatuck is having problems pumping enough water to supply the demand for residents on their system.

Martin County has also had its issues with pumping water and keeping up with the supply and demand.

All water companies need to stay on top of issues with pumps, tanks, pipes, etc.

We realize that sometimes extreme weather conditions can hamper things. But how about being prepared and resourceful before the problems arise?

We need water to quench our thirst, for cooking, cleaning, washing clothes and flushing toilets. We need water to live.

Fire departments also need a reliable supply of water to be able to fight fires.

I grew up when most homes had their own private wells on their property. I would like to have a quarter for every time I had to go prime the water pump in our basement. I can recall helping my dad work on the pipes that went down about 100 feet to pump the water from the well.

Throughout the centuries, towns and communities grew up near a water source. It is that important.

Businesses cannot operate without a good source of clean water.

If there is one thing all of our government officials need to strive for, it is to supply good, clean water for every household in the United States. This is from the federal and state governments down to the local county and city officials.

In this day and time no one should go without good water service.

Wildfires

The devastation of the wildfires in California is heartbreaking. Thousands of homes were destroyed by the fires that were spread quickly by up to 100 mph winds.

Entire blocks and neighborhoods were wiped out.

As firefighters battled the fast-spreading blazes around the Los Angeles area, they have been hampered by low water pressure and fire hydrants that have gone totally dry. These problems have exposed what experts say are problems in the city water supply systems not built for wildfires on this scale.

The water system that supplies neighborhoods simply lacks the capacity to deliver such large volumes of water over several hours.

It is a shame that these kinds of water issues exist in a state like California.

Inexcusable

Many third-world countries have issues with clean, potable water. It should not happen anywhere, but it is at least more understandable that countries that do not have the infrastructure capabilities that we do would have difficulty providing clean water.

But it should never happen in the United States of America.

We have to do better. It is simply inexcusable in this day and age.

Global challenge

I found this statement in an article from the CDC (Center for Disease Control).

“Everyone needs clean water, safe toilets, and good hygiene habits to stay healthy, but not everyone has access to these essentials. Today, millions of people around the world do not have clean water to drink, and billions do not have a safe place to go to the bathroom. This can lead to serious illnesses like cholera, typhoid and diarrhea, which are especially dangerous for infants and children.”

“Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene remains a significant global challenge.”

(Kyle Lovern is a longtime journalist in the Tug Valley. He is now a retired freelance writer and columnist for the Mountain Citizen.)