Water, water... where?

Coming to India has been a really unique experience for me in many ways. Living in the comfort of my suburban American community, and coming from a middle-class family... I have never had to worry about things like how, or where or IF I would have clean running and drinkable water. Actually the opposite was true... I, like many others in America, wasted water in my every day use - taking looooooong, hot showers every day, letting the water run as I brushed my teeth, using way too much water to wash my car or the dishes, or unnecessarily wash too many loads of laundry. Living in India and witnessing the deep poverty that so many people here are subject to has quickly made me realize the sanctity of water.

When I first came here and would go to restaurants for a bite to eat... I was taken aback when we would ask for some bottled water and the waiter would present the 1 liter of water as if he were seeking our approval of an expensive bottle of wine. As I came to learn, I would have to then touch the bottle to see if the temperature of the water was to my liking. I dismissed this the first and second time it happened as over zealous waiters trying desperately to appear high class and professional to us foreign customers. But no matter what restaurant we would go to, whether expensive or not ... it was always the same. Water is such a precious resource... a necessity of LIFE... and yet it's astounding to think that way too many people don't have access to even this. I've definitely changed my daily habits in a pretty dramatic way... I value water so much more and use it sparingly, always keeping in mind that although I can "afford" to have as much water as I would like... I can't afford to waste such a valuable and precious resource which should be shared and available to us all.