H₂O and I: The Ripple Effect
Water has profoundly shaped my life. It is the lifeblood of existence, connecting us all in ways most take for granted. From educating children as "Noah U Water" to uncovering unsettling truths during my graduate studies, I've worn many hats in its conservation. Yet, America often overlooks this universal solvent. My environmental journey began in a polluted watershed supplying Washington, D.C., where contaminated water once ignited. That discovery propelled me to adopt streams, testify under the Clean Water Act, and advocate for responsible stewardship. In a 1975 graduate course, I learned how pollution disproportionately affects the economically disadvantaged. Toxic runoff and industrial waste plague underserved communities, exposing the cruel irony that water—a basic human right—is often denied to those who need it most. The inequity remains stark; marginalized communities suffer the brunt of environmental degradation yet lack the power to combat it. Water ...