A Shortage of Water

In April 2008, I traveled to Nigeria with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Called to Witness Program to see how CRS is responding to poverty and fostering peace. My experience in Nigeria made me deeply aware of how consumerism affects us here in the United States. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the average American consumes nearly one hundred gallons of water each day for preparing food, bathing, washing clothes and dishes, flushing toilets, watering lawns, and gardening. This is something we take for granted.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the world's supply of fresh water is running out rapidly, and already one person in five has no access to safe drinking water. This crisis highlights how excessive American’s consumption has become and how the time for action is now.

Wasting Gallons of Water Each Day

I count myself among the many people who consumed more water and other material items than I needed, believing that they were adding to the quality of my life. For example, on the average day I would consume roughly one hundred gallons of water. Consuming water is not just about drinking it. I paid little attention to how much water went down the drain as I washed dishes, brushed my teeth, took a shower, or watered my lawn.

This changed drastically upon my return from Nigeria. In comparison with the people of Nigeria, I was able to see firsthand how I was consuming water at an alarming rate. In Nigeria, half the population has no access to clean water and many women and children walk for hours a day to fetch what little water they do have. This was a reality check for me. I found that I was consuming more than I needed simply because I had access to it. I asked myself, would I consume the same amount if I was limited to resources or if I had to work a little harder for them?

Making Changes

Through our faith we all have the power to change the way we live and to become aware of our consumption and reduce it. We are blessed to live in a society whose resources are vast, yet we must be responsible with those resources. I feel that we are called to take on the responsibility to educate not only our young people, but also to educate and challenge each other to change our way of life. This is best achieved through education starting at the local parish. I challenge you to get involved with the Called to Witness program, and other CRS programs, where you can learn more and help others learn as well.