CLEAN DRINKING WATER? I’LL HAVE ANOTHER

This is the Tualatin River water, not drinking water.

With this river running through Washington County to the lake in Lake Oswego, then out to the Willamette, why isn’t it tapped for drinking water in Tigard and LO?

This warning from the Tualatin Riverkeepers lays it out:

The Oregon Health Authority recommends these precautions to reduce exposure to pollutants:

●        Avoid swimming after heavy rainfall.

●        Remind children not to ingest river water.

●        Do not drink untreated water from any waterbody.

●        Shower after swimming.

●        Wash your hands before eating.

●        Avoid swimming in cloudy water.

 

What do we want? Pure drinking water.

When do we want it? Now, or when we feel thirsty.

Where do we get it?

Bull Run? Nooooo. That’s Portland.

Willamette River? Noooo. But Sherwood does.

 

Clackamas River Water

You don’t need to live this dangerously:

 

You would get really sick if you drank water straight from the Clackamas River which is why we have drinking water treatment plants which clean the river water and make it into potable drinking water. 

Water treatment is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids and gasses from the raw water. 

 

You would get really sick? Like beaver fever sick?

 

• The Beaver Connection: Animals like beavers carry the parasite and can shed it into natural water sources, which is how the nickname started.

Don’t do that.

Here’s a time line on the drinking water for Lake Oswego and Tigard.

The last segment of the history comes from 2017.

Cheers.

 

Why Clean Drinking Water? Really? Come On

I’m up on a hill under a winery roof with Mt. Hood in the background.

It’s behind my big head; the group I’m with is out of the frame to the left. Privacy matters around here, just not mine.

The key word here is wine. Clean water helps grow the grapes behind me.

Since Hawks View is near Sherwood off Roy Rogers Road, it’s probably Willamette River water, but you get the idea.

Clean water, no matter where it comes from, is a foundation for the future. In the present time it’s the foundation for the beer and wine the region is known for, among other things.

Portland water as a lot riding on it.

 

Every second of the day, more than 2,250 miles of pipe deliver water throughout the Portland area. If you stretched those pipes end to end, you’d have to travel to Mexico City to catch a drop.

How does it all work? Start here for the basics on the visible and invisible parts of our water system.

 

So there we were, six of us, with one of us a longtime native Portlander who went to Washington High School, the current Revolution Hall.

The topic of clean water came up, as it does while sipping and nibbling.

 

Join us for a guided tasting of five Hawks View Estate & Oregon grown wines. Our tasting experience can be tailored to your desires and there is no fee to reserve.

 

In the biggest of big pictures, bad water is no one’s cup of tea, glass of wine, or boot of beer.

If you mention water safety and someone in the group heckles you while they hold a plastic bottle of water, let it go.

Don’t start telling them anything, or asking stupid questions like, ‘how many bottles of water does it take for a shower?”

Or, ‘how many bottles does it take to wash your clothes so they don’t smell like solvent?’

A clean water denier is related to a climate change denier. They don’t fall far from the same dying tree.

When you call for another, turn on the water tap yourself, or pull your own beer out of the fridge, you’re not calling for ‘This tastes bad. It tastes like (pick one: rust, mold, ass, stank.)

No one’s got time for that.

 

PS:

A man of the people works with local leaders to find ways to deliver pristine water to everyone, hence ‘foundation of the future for the kids.’

 

PSS:

A dull man whose life is spent being whisked around the world in luxury and comfort couldn’t give a damn.

They’re  too busy to care?

 

Researchers have linked the family of chemicals called PFAS to increased risk of certain cancers, developmental effects in children, resistance to vaccines and other health problems.

 

Is it too early to encourage America to vote for clean water? How do you do that?