The importance of fresh water

Editor: World Water Day (designated by the UN in 1993) is held annually on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of fresh water and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of fresh water. This year’s theme is “Wastewater.”

Here are some facts about this crisis:

1. 1.8 billion people around the world lack access to safe water. 2. Globally, a third of all schools lack access to safe water and adequate sanitation. 3. In low- and middle-income countries, a third of all healthcare facilities lack a safe water source. 4. The World Economic Forum in January 2015 ranked the water crisis as the No. 1 global risk based on impact to society (as a measure of devastation). 5. The incidence of children suffering from stunting and chronic malnutrition — at least 160 million — is linked to water and sanitation. 6. More than 840,000 people die from a water-related disease each year, including diarrhea caused by bad drinking water, hygiene and sanitation. There are many nonprofit organizations that work to provide clean water. Here is a list of the most effective and you can help by donating to any of these worthy organizations.

• Wine to Water – http://winetowater.org

• Hippo Roller - https://www.hipporoller.org/

• Water is Life - http://waterislife.com/

• Generosity City - http://generosity.org/

• Thirst Project - https://www.thirstproject.org/

• Blood Water - http://www.bloodwater.org/

• Rotary International - https://www.rotary.org/en/our -causes/providing-clean-water

Lodi has a rare opportunity to help with solving the water crisis but also to draw attention to its wine industry. Lodi wineries could declare the weekend of March 25-27 as Wine to Water weekend and support Wine to Water by donating a portion of their sales to Wine to Water. If you agree that this would be a good thing for Lodi to do write an email to the Wine Commission and the Chamber of Commerce requesting that they support this effort.

MICHAEL HODGE Galt