Growing up in Colorado, I have been conscious
of the effects of water on my community for a very long time. In the summer,
dry climates desiccate the reservoirs that collect water from the mountains. We
have to be extremely careful of our water consumption and usage in this time so
we do not take away water resources for farming and irrigation, for
firefighting and for human consumption. Alternately, in other seasons, there
are frequently reservoir contamination issues from the melting snow and from
purification techniques that cause strain on our community’s financial and
industrial resources in order to fix these problems. Even though my community
has the capability to prevent these problems, these problems are still
pervasive in my area. Communities, that are not as fortunate to have the
resources to combat these water issues, often face a more extreme buildup of
organic contaminants, disinfection by-products, and water borne diseases in
their natural water sources and treated drinking water.

These problems often become more pervasive in
these communities because current water filtration membranes do not always
remove these harmful substances. Leading environmental agencies, industries,
and the United Nations are passionately saying that water contamination and
filtration is one of the top ten issues the current generation will have to
face. As a global community, it is our duty to assist developing countries to
support projects to build water filtration systems, while we search for ways to
provide a long term solution to this worldwide crisis.

A lack of clean water is one of the most
inhibiting factors for communities in developing areas. The impact of funding a
water project goes far beyond providing clean and safe access to water. It
provides an outlet for economic growth, self-sustainability, and educational development. By fundraising for The Water Project, I have the power to take my
ideas and motivation to make immediate and systemic change for a
community.