Young people need to know all about our water

More than ever, it is imperative that younger generations understand our water: where it comes from, how it’s managed, how climate affects it and why conservation efforts are important.

Young people should have more opportunities to see how water is managed first-hand, as well as appreciate the dedicated, laborious work our local utilities perform for millions of residents daily to ensure that water is clean, safe and available.

They must understand that the smallest conservation efforts, like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, can yield great benefits.

The South Florida Water Coalition recently coordinated a tour of the Boca Raton water treatment facility with science club students from Saint John Paul II Academy in Boca Raton.

The staff gave the students presentations on where our water comes from, how it’s managed, how climate affects our water, and why conservation is important, followed by a behind-thescenes look at the filtration systems and control center.

Education is critically important to build a better future for South Florida’s water, and where better to begin than with the next generation? Water is a finite resource, and it must be treated as such. With our climate changing and our area continuing to see a population surge, efforts to preserve the water that is currently available to us are more important than ever.

Aside from the educational benefits, a new generation might find inspiration to become engineers that will work just as tirelessly to protect our water in an environment that will surely face additional complex challenges in the future.

The staff at Boca Water Utilities should be commended, and I hope more South Florida utilities follow Boca’s lead and spend time talking with those who will inherit the world, and the water, that we manage for them. Ryan Rossi, Boca Raton

The writer is director of the South Florida Water Coalition.