"Water the Whole Surface:" The Mission for Safe Water
Posted: Sunday, March 29, 2009
by Walter Rhett
Charleston Perlo
(Southern Perlo note: This is two part special feature, a documentaryphoto essay tobe posted on consecutive Saturdays.This Perlo series explores how a community and a Christian non-profitsupport the most vital element for life, one we take for granted--water. Part One introducesCharleston's Walk for Water, adds elements of water's history. Part Two looks at the terrific technology developed by Water Missions International being used in 27 countries to bring safe water to communities across the world. Enjoy the series' stories and photos.)
After paying a quick ten dollars to a smiling volunteer at the Water Missions International registration table and signing a waiver, I join eight hundred other walkers on a bright, windy Saturday morning, determined to carry a white plastic pail filled with a couple of gallons of water for more than a mile and a half. The broad Ashley River to my right and Charleston's Atlantic harbor ahead, the pail in my hand prompts me to think about water and its place in its human life. Water from the lakes, out of drinking water,streams, and skies of the world is in my blood, flowing through my veins, and all of life is under its influence.
Water was at the source of Charleston's beginnings when the city was founded in 1670. Three small English ships battled the sea, arrived to explore the harbor behind me, and dropped anchor in the river on my left, laying plans for the settlement which is now this city. Yet one founding ship ran and its early settlers nearly died.
Walking along the Cooper River, toward Charleston's harbor
The morning's walk is a promise to remember that water flows through every aspect of human lives: our bodies are more than two thirds water, safe water and its supply is an absolute condition for life, dirty water is death, and millions of children, men, and women still make long, daily trek to wells and rivers for water to drink, to cook, to bathe.
The Walk for Water is a unique event, organized by the Charleston non-profit, Water Missions International. The walk was inspired by millions who walk to transport water every day. Water Mission's Charleston walk is a part of a world-wide annual celebration of World Water Day, sponsored by the United Nations, taking place in 27 nations.
A quick review of ancient public works affirms water's importance. The Nile's water levels were measured and recorded for more than 5,000 years. The Chinese developed a massive public works system over 2,000 years ago of gravity-fed underground tunnels in the northwest desert and turned one of the earth's hottest and most barren places into a prosperous green oasis. Even Machu Picchu, set on a 8,000 foot high ridge in the Andes mountains, had a carefully engineered water system. A Persian water specialist published a book in the 10thcentury in which the technical understanding of water and its engineering principles was 7 centuries ahead of Western Europe's.
The chief source the ancient world's mechanical power and energy was the water wheel. Water wheels ran ancient foundries, sawmills, and stamp mills. The water wheel also rapidly advanced food processing and distribution. In the 10thcentury, water wheels set up in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers powered mills that yielded ten tons of flour a day!
A few blocks from the walk's start, I past a 19thcentury rice pond, built as a reservoir for a water-powered rice mill that once stood on the Ashley River bank. Water powered rice mills along the South Carolina coast date from the 1790s. Using tidal flows and water impoundments which release water through gates similar to those used to flood and empty the rice fields, enslaved mechanics milled a hundred barrels of rice, over 30 tons of rice daily.
My pail filled with water weighs 15 pounds. Its two gallons would be used for drinking, cooking, and bathing. It would require several trips to provide water for a small family.
Water has been a principal source of power, prosperity, and enhanced fertility for the land, but water, itself neutral and beneficial, abundant and inexpensive, can be channeled to ferry conflict.
From Boston to Charleston to Brazil, ocean crossings transported 12 million slaves over four centuries, including 300,000 from the holes of ships onto the docks of the harbor ahead me.
In Angola,the countrymany think is the source of the South Carolina lowcounry Gullah culture (Angola = 'gola = gullah), the captured and soon-to-be-enslaved were paraded through beach chapels to be baptized, splashed with Holy Water, slung from the priest's aspergillum (sprinkler).
During the journey from Africa to America called the Middle passage, half the dead cast into the sea, their bones picked clean by trailing sharks, died for lack of a single cup of water a day. The blank eyed stares, clinched jaws, lethargy, conditions widely described in captain's journals, are all signs of fatal dehydration.
Aeight hundredstrong, with buckets sloshing, and children straining from the weight of carrying two, many people I interview have deep reasons for walking. They share their stories as they act by their steps to create athree and a half milepilgrimage to a tap to fill a bucket or two and return, laden with water.
Bearing flags from 20 countries w/installed WMI Living Water treatment systems
Two members of a girl scout troop from The Church of the Nativity, a Catholic parish west of downtown, on James Island, are walking with adult leaders. The troop donated ten percent of its cookie sales to the walk's sponsor and organizer, Water Missions International. The Scout leaders say their participation is community service; the girls will not earn merit badges. They are all first time participants. What has impressed them? The leaders are amazed at all the flags gathered from the countries where Water Missions International has placed systems, providing communities, schools, hospitals and crisis areas with a supply of safe water. The signs with facts about water stand out, too, the adults say.
We pass a sign held by a volunteer that silently informs us: 4,500 children die a day from the lack of safe water.
For the troop leaders the walk is more than symbolic. Carrying the empty buckets, to be returned, filled, is experiential learning. By its design, this walk opens the heart, and offers a We are the World moment that buoys the spirits of walkers who honor by their steps the strength and persistence of those who lift and tote water for the final mile to villages and homes. Rather an appeal based on need, this march celebrates and literally lifts up the inner strength of the millions of water bearers. Our steps allow us to find within ourselves a new level of resolve. The walk for water breaks downour moral incoherence and taps into a well of inner virtue. Our steps insist on mercy, declare justice, and are rooted in love. Under the bright morning sun, this walk proclaims a happy day.
Water Mission InternationalVolunteers
Water made Charleston a very busy and rich city. And water's rhythms are embedded in the city's grow and history: its present is writ with the good times and hardships that have splashed along its shore.
Charleston's eras and big ideals have overlapped and often collided. More often through, these ideals channeled around each other. A prosperous globe village that scripted both grace and guile, the city has allowed differing ideals to find common passage.
Water Missions Internationaltakes the high road of this common ground. Stacy Hall, an engineer and solar specialist who consults with WMI says he is impressed by how serious the organization's commitment is to suppling safe water. It's hard to describe how focused [WMI] is on providing safe water.
Stacy and I talk while waiting on the a Charleston fire trunk to arrive to hose rust colored, contaminated water into the pool.
Water, necessary for all life, is so important it was one of the Greeks primal elements. For the same reason, water's flexible, domestic, nurturing character and change of moods was memorialized as a primary personality trait in the astrological signs.
Walkers for Water
Water Missions International (WMI) provides what was once clean, free, and abundant to global communities where water is now dirty, scare, or controlled. Their work is often the difference between life and death. In February 2009, WMI provided water to 20,000 displaced Sri Lankans. By the second day on the ground, WMI had produced 33,285 gallons of safe water.
The walk expresses support for safe water to be available everywhere, but it is also a positive protest. The walk is a second line aboutthe 25,000 people who diedailyfrom water that is impure and infected with parasites and bacteria. Over a billion people have no access to safe water, and every 15 seconds, a child under five dies from a condition connected to unsafe water.
Early in the walk I meet a single middle-aged black man walking in the crowd, carrying his bucket, wearing a Water Missions International ball cap. I ask him about his advocacy for safe water. It turns out, he works for the local water company. He helps maintain the system, fixing breaks, making repairs, replacing worn out parts. After Hurricane Katrina, the company sent workers to Mississippi to help with repairs and to be general volunteers. We went for a week at a time. That experience, standing in yards where the water flooded entire houses, made him aware of the people at the end of the system: he was a witness to their needs for safe water. He felt the real fears of residents facing the crisis of losing their water supply. That memory caused him to join the group to walk on his day off.
(All photos, except the salmon, by Walter Rhett.)
Thanks for reading! Southern Perlo is posted by Walter Rhett from Kudu Coffee (African coffees and good conversation!), in Charleston, SC. In a Southern voice, it gathers stories for local communities, and was recently featured on the Lou Dobbs radio show.(A Perlo is rice enriched by local bounty, carefully crafted to enhance its pleasure and value;enjoyed by all.)You may create a permalink to Southern Perlo by clicking the permalink button. And please,stir the Perlo--below, addyour comments!
Great Article I loved all the pictures great addition
Hi Walter. Very well done. The time you took in this piece shines through. It's always nice taking a trip through history with you. And I think the pictures breathe an added dimension of life.Blessings to you! Teresa
Great article. Well done. I really like the pictures they add another dimension to your writing. Thanks
Did anybody see the bird flying over the river in the second pix (the one after the salmon)?
Walter,thank you for this article. I understand the problem of safe water. I live in such a area that has only Iron ( Hard ) Water. SO we really struggle every day to get fresh water for cunsumption and cooking purspose.Thank you for this article.Swapna
Can anybody give you less than FIVE? Wonderful article and informative. The pictures are really good. Thanks for sharing.
Walter,This is a beautiful article, just fantastic! And might I add, inspirational as well! Thanks for sharing this with us.
Walter, I missed the bird, (went back and THEN saw it) but got the message. What a great idea. Too often we take it for granted that water flows at the flip of a handle.Nicely done.
