Trying to imagine a day without water

How far can you get into your daily routine before turning on a faucet, taking a shower or otherwise using tap water? For most of us, water is a central part of our daily lives. This is particularly true in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, when regular handwashing has become a vital part of our health and hygiene.

It is easy to take the availability of safe, reliable and high-quality tap water for granted. However, for millions of people around the world, this precious natural resource is not available when they need it.

Last week, the Regional Water Authority joined utilities across the country to Imagine a Day Without Water. This annual event is a time to pause and appreciate the way that water systems benefit our lives and communities, and for us to recommit to ensuring a sustainable water future for generations to come.

Our state and our nation are facing an enormous public health crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic. With regular hand-washing remaining one of the best ways to fight the virus, the need for reliable, high-quality water has never been greater. Throughout this emergency, the RWA and other utilities have kept safe, high-quality water flowing to homes, hospitals and essential businesses. This crisis has demonstrated the critical role that water systems play in our communities, protecting public health, providing fire protection, safeguarding the environment and making a prosperous economy possible. It is easy to imagine how much worse the pandemic would be without widespread access to tap water. Without it, Americans would be unable to stay safe and limit the spread of COVID-19.

We must not take water systems, or the resources that supply them, for granted. Much of Connecticut is experiencing a drought or abnormally dry conditions caused by the lack of precipitation throughout 2020. The RWA is fortunate to have plentiful water supplies. Despite that, we have asked that all our customers voluntarily reduce their water use by 10 percent.

It is no secret that our climate is changing. This has led to more severe weather events — like the recent Tropical Storm Isaias — that pummeled our state with heavy winds, but without the rains we rely on to keep reservoirs filled. The Environmental Protection Agency also reports that Connecticut’s average temperature has increased by two to three degrees in the last century. A warming climate can cause more evaporation, further contributing to droughts like the one we are currently experiencing.

Fortunately, there are ways that all of us can help. By cutting back on irrigation and other nonessential water use, you can reduce your total water consumption by 10 percent. If all of us do this, we can help protect the supply of this precious natural resource, ensuring it is there when we need it. More guidance on using water wisely can be found on the RWA’s website at rwater.com.

Environmental protection and sustainability are core aspects of the RWA’s mission and identity. Earlier this month, we were proud to receive a 2020 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. As a 21stcentury environmental services company, we continually seek new and innovative ways to provide great service to our customers while also protecting the environment and the precious natural resources with which we are trusted.

I ask that you take a few minutes to imagine what your day would be like without water. Think about what it would mean not to have a reliable, safe and affordable source of water. For many people in the world, climate change has already made this imagined scenario a harsh reality. Climate change and access to water cannot be tomorrow’s problem. Take a stand today, commit to using water wisely and living more sustainably so that an imagined day without water never comes to pass.