“When the well is dry we know the worth of water.” Benjamin Franklin’s poignant statement captures the essence of our population’s indifference towards water conservation. The irony is that of all the water on Earth, less than one percent of it is usable by humans. Water is a vital resource for recreation, the economy, hygiene and life itself.

Irrigation, hydroelectricity and fire fighting are all made possible by the presence of water. For a substance that plays a role in every aspect of nature, it only makes sense that we value it and manage it with utmost care.

As a high school senior at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem and resident of Cary, the two counties between which I spend all my time are Forsyth and Wake, two counties also currently classified as being under “extreme drought.” Currently, 82 counties out of the 100 in our state are experiencing “extreme” and “severe” drought intensities. I have taken up the challenge of encouraging other individuals to take actions that can definitely offset the drought’s effects by incorporating an outlook towards water conservation into their daily lifestyle.

Living in the land of abundance, it is sometimes easy to forget the value of prudence. Growing up in a culture where all it takes to quench one’s thirst is the turn of a faucet tap, the idea of “running out” of water seems ludicrous. Impressing upon North Carolinians the exigency for sensible action in response to the diminished water supply is pivotal in reversing the present ebb and flow of our water supply and demand.

In response to the state’s projected population growth, synonymous with the increasing demand for water, Richard Rogers, the executive director of the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund, was quoted as saying, “We’re headed for a train wreck, and it’s going to be an incredible impact on the economy, the quality of life and everything.” Drought experts, the governor and mayors across the state are on board with the pressing need for the overdue drought mitigation efforts.

It is imperative that the urgency of the consequences of our depleting supply of water across our state be conveyed to the youth in all communities. Encouraging young people to become proactive citizens on a widely impacting subject like this is a highly effective method for increasing awareness in public sectors not in touch with environmental issues. I have forged a bond between the teenaged youth raised on technology and the issue at hand by starting an online blog about water conservation which inlcudes surveys, links to helpful government sites, tips, and will soon have competitions for prizes. Please visit dropscount.blogspot.com.

In the realm of water conservation, a comprehensive expansion of awareness that reaches across all ages is crucial to obtaining the magnitude of response necessary for restoring the lost equilibrium.

Instilling resource responsibility and consideration in our younger generations will be an important step in avoiding problems like this in the future. “The frog does not drink the pond in which he lives.” Like the frog in this Native American proverb, we must use our resources conservatively so that we can retain them for generations to come.