The Most Precious Commodity We Have by Samantha

The Most Precious Commodity We Have by Samantha - March 2017 Scholarship Essay

In Global History class, the fact that countless civilizations were founded along rivers is drilled into your head. Why? Water provided the vital resources people needed to survive, and still do today. With the increase in the human population, the increase in pollution, the freshwater we see today will diminish if not preserved. The resource that has been relied on for thousands of years will be no more. But, without water what will happen to us? It is important that we act now to preserve whatever non-polluted water we have on this planet, and it needs to start with our high school generation.
Earth is considered the “blue planet” for a reason. The amount of water we have is extraordinary. Saltwater and freshwater are home to numerous amounts of species and support multiple ecosystems, and more protection is needed for them. The pollution of freshwater and saltwater not only affects the animals that inhabit it, but only disrupts the delicate balance of nature. Since the invention and the exponential use of plastic, our waterways have endured the extensive addition to plastic. I hope to have the opportunity to create a “Plastic Clean Up Day” to remove the harmful material from our water. In the Pacific Ocean, there is an area known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch where there is more plastic particles than plankton. Many marine mammals and birds confuse plastic for food and when consumed, they suffocate and die. I hope to find an alternative to plastic use, perhaps promote the use of a recyclable, biodegradable material similar to plastic, but without the harmful effects to marine life. The plastic that is polluting our waterways is a threat to humans as well. If our freshwater is polluted, then what will we drink to survive? On Long Island, we rely on aquifers to provides us with our freshwater; however, pollution invaded the Upper Glacial Aquifer, closest to the surface, leading us to dig deeper to the Magothy Aquifer. But, it will not be long until the Magothy is polluted. In the future, I hope to innovate new ways of cleaning the aquifers that are less costly and more efficient. How? I’m not quite sure yet, but with more research, I am confident I will find a way.
The increase in human population has inadvertently lead to the over consumption of freshwater. The United States had turned into an affluent country, and in turn poses a threat to future generations. Again, Long Island relies on the Magothy Aquifer for its freshwater, but the over extraction of the water in the aquifer could lead to saltwater intrusion. This occurs when water is removed at a rate faster than the aquifer can replenish itself leading to saltwater from the ocean entering in. Once there is saltwater in the aquifer, it is nearly impossible to remove it again. People as citizens of the earth need to be more water efficient to prevent this from occurring. There is a need for water efficient shower heads, sprinklers, hoses, washing machines, and whatever other appliance that requires water. Is it necessary to take 30 minutes showers? Is it necessary to use clean, drinkable freshwater to flush a toilet? As a society we waste too much water that could be preserved for the future. I want to work with plumbers, appliance manufacturers, government officials, and environmentalist to discuss ways to be water efficient, not water wasteful.
Throughout history, people have relied on water to survive; however, with the increase in pollution and precious water being wasted, future generations are subject to a water shortage. I hope to clean up the polluted waters, create biodegradable “plastic,” and work with others to create a more water efficient society. After all, without water what will happen to us? We need start to preserve our water or else we will not have any left for our child or grandchild, even great grandchildren for that matter. It starts with us.