“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”

― Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad

Water is the common denominator for all life. Yet most of us live lives in which it is so easy to take this life force for granted; turn the tap, flush it down, wash the car. Did you know a small drip from a faucet can waste as much as 75 litres of water a day? An American taking a five-minute shower uses more water than the average person in a developing country slum uses for an entire day.

How many people do not have the luxury of easy access to water? It is estimated that in many parts of the world women and children spend the majority of their time accessing clean water. What trust do we put in our municipalities when we turn the tap and drink a glass of water? What if we couldn’t count on it to be clean and safe? More than 2 billion people on earth do not have a safe supply of water.

The new age cliche of being one with the universe is never more true than when you begin to delve into the importance of water. The total amount of water in the body of an average adult is 37 litres and approximately 66% of the human body consists of water. Water exists within all our organs and it is transported throughout our body to assist physical functions.

A single tree will give off 265 litres (70 gallons) of water per day in evaporation and even an elephant is 70% water!

It is vital that we examine our water usage, fight against pollutants and conserve fresh water supplies. This month our writers explored water from sewage issues, lakes and rivers to ecosystems that need to be preserved to water shortages. We hope this issue will be a reminder to turn your taps a little tighter, wash your car a little less and to be grateful for the ease with which most of us reading this can access water.

See you in July,

Jane