Water Week is a winner

In May, sometime around Compost Awareness Week and British Sandwich Week, Ralph Becker — House Minority Leader — would like to sandwich in another seven days of awareness: Utah State Water Week.

Unlike many other celebratory weeks that are set aside to promote an industry or a cause, Becker's notion of a Water Week does hold water. More than a feel-good proposal, the idea of setting aside a few days to contemplate the region's most universal and important resource makes sense.

We urge the Legislature to move the measure along — all the way to the end of the row.

During the week, water-related programming would air on public television and radio, and a web site would be set up as a clearinghouse for concerns, ideas and complaints. Museum exhibits are being considered to show the vital idea of water in the West.

Just looking at how the West has been laid out with cities at the foot of mountain ranges to take advantage of the runoff, or along rivers and lakes, and examining the blood pressure-spiking issues of conservation and the environment, one sees that more understanding and cooperation over water concerns would be welcome. With a little education, half of the increasing demand for water in the state could be met by people simply cutting back on their own unexamined habits. In short, water use is an issue that affects every man, woman, child, animal and plant in the state.

One week, needless to say, is not enough to make a big difference. But like seed money put into a worthy project, a week is enough to jump start interest and get the engine running. From the first seven days, two weeks, a month, a year and a lifestyle may eventually emerge.

"Anyone who can solve the problems of water will be worthy of two Nobel Prizes," President John F. Kennedy said. "One for peace and one for science."

That was true 40 years ago. It's true now.

And a Water Week in May — when the rivers begin flowing and the gardens start blooming — is a good time to remind all Utahns that having enough water is not a right, but a responsibility.