Andrew Szwak

August is National Water Quality Month, an opportunity to remind oneself of the essential role water plays in the survival of life on Earth.

Mark Twain — one of the quintessential voices of American literature — is credited with saying that whiskey is for drinking while water is for fighting. And no wonder. Our country is a vast array of diverse people who live in places where water plays very different, but similarly important, roles in our lives.

A recent article in the Baltimore Sun highlighted how neighborhood green spaces honor local heroes. Former residents that are memorialized with parks in their names include community activists, ambassadors, barrier-breaking politicians and other local luminaries. Many of them are people of color.

Thinking about water can feel overwhelming. Most Americans personally worry “a great deal” about pollution in their drinking water, rivers and lakes.