This article was published on: 11/29/11 12:00 AM

Let’s keep surface water

Published: November 29. 2011 4:00AM PST

Let’s keep our surface water resource.

I have read that clean, safe water is the new gold of the world, and becoming more expensive as time and population growth continue. Our surface water from Bridge Creek is pure and flows through pristine land — no logging, no mining, no industry — a rare resource in the 21st century.

It is important to keep both the underground and surface water sources, even though it will be expensive to upgrade. It was expensive to install the sewer system in Bend, and it was just awful, with the blasting and digging and torn-up streets. I’m sure many upstanding citizens were not in favor, especially since our utility bills would increase. I’m grateful that city leaders made that decision and encourage them to persevere in the decision to preserve Bridge Creek water. I imagine the federal government would be happy to have that resource back, which could then be privatized — perhaps even selling our untested mountain water back to us in plastic bottles!

Safe, clean water will undoubtedly be expensive in the future. Let’s keep and control our own resources.

Elsa Douglass

Bend

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