A vital resource we’ve abused for far too long

IT gives life. It takes life. We can have too much of it or we can have too little of it. We love it and we hate it.

We pollute it, then we spend millions trying to purify it. Every day on television we see its significance to life in Third World countries and we generously make donations to projects that supply it. Yet here at home we don’t recognise its importance and waste it on a large scale.

One thing is for sure ... no nation, no matter how wealthy and sophisticated, can either produce it or do without it. It’s more precious that gold. It’s called water. At present we are all witnessing just how quickly the decline in drinking water can bring a nation to its knees.

All over this island we have seen the hardships people are experiencing just trying to get enough water to meet their basic needs.

For decades I have seen the enormous abuse of water in Ireland and find it appalling. Leaking pipes are ignored. Pollution of our water courses is a way of life and water management is practically nonexistent.

My experience tells me this must change. As a young man of 18 years I emigrated to Australia on the assisted passage scheme for £10. There I worked as a “rouseabout” on a sheep station. Water was both precious and scarce.

Every Saturday night before going to the dance in Kilmore (often on horseback) three of us would have to share the same bath water. The last person out of the bath would then have to scoop all the water out and put it in a bucket and pour the used water on the trees around our house.

The trees were our shelter from the blistering sun. The point is we never pulled the plug and wasted water. That simple exercise generated great fun and laughter. Now I am not suggesting everyone in this country starts to bathe together — but we must stop taking water for granted and learn to manage it. Because when all is said and done water is more precious than gold.

Tom Roche

Rathcobican

Rhode

Co Offaly