Water a luxury elsewhere

As our mayor and City Council haggle over how little Spokane residents should pay for the privilege of pouring drinkable water on their lawns, it might be wise to reflect on the fact that over the past 10 years, unsafe drinking water has killed more children worldwide than all the people lost to armed conflict since World War II, and that one-half of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people suffering from water-related illnesses.

Roughly one-sixth of the world’s population – 1.1 billion people – do not have access to safe drinking water, resulting in the deaths of 2.2 million people annually, mostly children, from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water.

Rather than griping about water rate increases in Spokane, perhaps we should all give thanks, count our blessings, and consider a modest surcharge to help relieve the suffering of those who do not have the luxury of whining about how little they wish to pay for keeping their lawns green with drinking water in the summer.

Tom Keefe

Spokane