Water…the Fabric of LifeBy Patricia Opaskar ’65 and Steve Ruic From the Sun Belt to the Deep South, U.S. cities are straining to maintain their freshwater supplies. Steady population growth and a historic drought have pushed reservoirs in some Southeastern cities to within a few weeks of running dry. The states of Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been embroiled in what the media has referred to as a “Water War,” with state governments and federal negotiators wrangling over how to equitably distribute a limited supply of fresh water. Meanwhile, representatives from eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces bordering the Great Lakes came together to form a compact aimed at protecting their economic and ecological interests. Unfortunately, ratification of the compact has stalled over issues pertaining to private property.
The need for clean water is a deep and complex, touching on almost every facet of every society across the world. Just how important is it? The United Nations has declared the years 2005 through 2015 as the “Water for Life” decade, with 2008 deemed the “International Year of Sanitation.” The Sisters of Notre Dame have joined with the commitment of the United Nations by adopting their own corporate stance on water. “It is more than an issue,” said Sr. Alice Dugar ’67, manager of the Notre Dame College science labs. “Water is the very fabric of life.” For very different reasons, the individuals featured here from the Notre Dame College community engage in activism and research, examining the future of water accessibility and quality. Planning for the Possibilities“I’ve always been surprised by the attitude that people from this region have toward the Great Lakes,” mused adjunct business instructor Robert Loeffler. “They might sometimes question the safety or cleanliness of the water, but if someone tries to take a bucket full out of the lake, they get very emotional.” While there are no public plans to raid the Great Lakes in a national water redistribution project, Loeffler believes it is one of several scenarios that should be considered as water becomes an increasingly sought-after commodity. What he did find was water diversion is not a new idea. “Alaska has been exporting fresh water down the West Coast via boats,” said Loeffler “and Chicago has diverted a river moving fresh water from Lake Michigan into the Mississippi. It is conceivable for this to happen on a larger scale.” Further, he learned that politicians have suggested the possibility of water sharing between states. “If they are alluding to this, it is an issue,” said Loeffler. “You could see a caucus of congressional members getting together and saying ‘We represent a significant number of American citizens. We need the water here.’” Loeffler’s findings were included in Earth Watch Ohio, a bi-monthly newspaper distributed by a state-wide nonprofit organization of the same name. The publication features stories on topics related to creation of a sustainable future for Ohio. In his article, Loeffler urged Great Lakes residents to begin planning for these many possibilities. “A number of individuals should look at four or five scenarios that might present themselves over the next five or ten years: the idea of the Great Lakes Compact, the idea of the Great Lakes becoming a federalized water source, or even staying status quo. These scenarios should be discussed before somebody else arrives and says ‘This is what we are going to do.’ We need a place at the table to state our case. Once a decision has been made, it would be difficult to come back try to have any input.” Less Means More for College’s Energy Management ProgramWhen it comes to saving water, what can a small college like Notre Dame College do to help the cause? An energy management program, begun in 2006, aims to find out.
Through the energy management program, Notre Dame will lessen its use of electricity by 500,000 kilowatt-hours and also reduce its water usage by 2,000,000 gallons each year. While it reduces its environmental impact, the College will realize a double benefit with a savings of more than $2 million from its operational costs. According to Notre Dame College president, Dr. Andrew P. Roth, “This project has multiple benefits; not only does it lower our operating costs and provide us with much needed capital improvements, it greatly reduces our energy consumption and thus the impact our facilities have on the environment. It is a further step toward improving the campus environment for students, faculty and visitors alike.” The project is funded through the savings generated by the program, assisting Notre Dame’s ongoing cost control measures. According to Sr. Alice Dugar, manager of the College’s science laboratories, “Everything is connected. If we knew how much water went into manufacturing or making our electricity, just in curbing our energy use, we are protecting water.” Notre Dame College Water Activists on the Local Scene
Both Mary K. and Dr. Judy Santmire, assistant professor of biology at Notre Dame College, helped plan the Friends’ water testing project. In this ongoing program, volunteers regularly test water at sites along Euclid Creek’s branches. Mary K. serves as a tester, and Judy introduces her students to the project. One student, Tim McEwen ’07, was a tester during the 2006-07 school year. Again in 2007-2008, an NDC biology major, Zach Young, participated in the program. As FOEC treasurer, Mary K. helped in the group’s successful effort to preserve a rare untouched wetland within the watershed. The 12.5-acre property lies next to the Highland Heights city park. Obtaining a state grant for over $200,000 and pledging to raise $70,000 more, FOEC last year paid for a conservation easement that prevents development on the site. This move saves several endangered species, including the dusty goldenrod, and assures the watershed’s beneficial filtering action of the wetland. To Whom Much Is Given…According to the World Health Organization, 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. Furthermore, 2.4 billion lack adequate sanitation. But, according to Dr. Judy Santmire, those numbers are probably low. “They underestimate the real picture. Keep in mind that the United Nations’ standard for ‘adequate sanitation’ is a lined latrine pit. Is that what comes to mind when you think of sanitation?”
In her three years as an assistant professor of biology at Notre Dame College, Santmire has been blessed with a kindred spirit in Sr. Alice Dugar ’67, the manager of the College’s science laboratories. Dugar also has a long standing interest in the ecological aspects of water, and the human rights aspects issues related to water accessibility. She was involved in drafting the Sisters of Notre Dame’s corporate stance on water accountability in 2004. “We made a ten year commitment that followed the Water for Life program with the United Nations,” said Dugar. Through Dugar’s connections, Santmire was able to participate in a teachers’ conference held at the United Nations in New York City during February 2006. The conference, titled “The Global Challenges of Water,” changed the way Santmire looked at water issues. “I was amazed; water really is a gender issue. I heard first-hand stories of girls who are unable to get an education because they spend six hours a day walking to a distant water source to get water for their families. There are stories of girls getting raped and women facing physical harm just to get water.” Santmire returned to the classroom with a renewed interest in getting her students engaged in the importance of water issues. She and Sr. Alice encourage students to be responsible with their water use. One of the small ways they are bringing about change is asking students to use tap water instead of bottled water. “Bottled water can cost you up to 1,000 times more than tap water,” claimed Dugar. “I understand that bottles are a convenience, but purchasing bottled water promotes privatization of water by large corporations. Once we lose water as a basic right, and it becomes a commodity for profit, it is very difficult to get it back.” “There is a biblical principle, ‘to whom much is given, much is required,’” said Santmire. “When I look at a globe, I live in the greatest abundance of freshwater on the planet. We have a divine appointment to use this resource in a cautious, conservative and responsible manner.” Patricia Opaskar ’65 is a freelance writer and editor residing in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. | Back To Top | |
On the other side of the world, a multinational beverage corporation operating in India has determined that it may need to close a bottling plant due to its negative environmental impact. Sisters of Notre Dame in India have reported allegations made by indigenous farmers of ground water theft and soil contamination by this company. 
Loeffler has taught in Notre Dame’s Weekend College for 20 years and has 25 years of experience in public relations and public affairs. His interest in the prospect of redistributing the Great Lakes water supply began after reading news articles and editorials discussing the future of the Great Lakes. “Throughout my whole career, I have written articles on technical and engineering subjects, using facts and numbers to explain the issues. But on this subject, the news articles lacked hard data.”
The program, implemented by Siemens Building Technologies in Valley View, Ohio, involved a number of energy-saving projects including replacing and upgrading water fixtures to eliminate wasteful use of water, and installing lighting fixtures throughout the school buildings and residence halls. Other projects included work on the boilers in Connelly Center and Petersen Hall, installation of a Decktron pool water heater for Mellen Pool in the Keller Center, and upgrades to the HVAC and fume hoods in the science labs in rooms 307, 315 and 316.
For several members of the Notre Dame College community, the campaign for clean water begins in the College’s own back yard. The campus is part of the Euclid Creek Watershed, a 24-square mile area drained by Euclid Creek. Home to nine suburbs and part of Cleveland, the watershed is endangered by erosion, flooding, and water contamination. To combat these problems, area residents banded together in 2001 to form the Friends of Euclid Creek. The volunteer organization works with city, county, and state governments to preserve and improve the condition of the watershed. One of the group’s founders was the late Janet Downs ’88, a graduate of Notre Dame’s Weekend College. Mary K. Evans ’65 has been FOEC treasurer since 2005. In 2003-04, she coordinated the Friends of Euclid Creek photo contest, held to highlight the beauty of the watershed.
Santmire has been involved with water and sanitation issues for many years. With a background in health care, she entered graduate school with the thought of studying aquatic ecology, and continued into her doctoral program. “My application letter for the Ph.D. program expressed my interest in international water quality programs,” she recalled.