World Water Day—An Information Forum

San Miguel and surrounding communities face unprecedented water challenges. Our water comes from a large underground aquifer that is declining at an alarming rate. Wells are going dry, and the water that remains contains harmful minerals that cannot be removed by ordinary means. The cause is over-extraction of groundwater for export agriculture. The consequence is high levels of arsenic and fluoride, a toxic cocktail known to cause crippling skeletal fluorosis, developmental disabilities, organ failure and cancer. Children are at greatest risk, because their growing bodies absorb minerals more rapidly. Dental fluorosis—browning of teeth—marks a child for life.

Typical water filters, even whole house systems with a UV lamp, cannot remove arsenic and fluoride. For that you need a dedicated drinking water system, such as reverse osmosis—beyond the means of the many tens of thousands on our aquifer living in poverty.

Got questions about our local water situation? Get answers! Join us for a short film, followed by a panel discussion featuring local water experts. Learn what you can do to assure safe, healthy drinking water for yourselves; and about the predicament of others in the region that we share the aquifer with. Seating is limited, advance tickets recommended.