I’ve got water on the brain, figuratively, this rainy International Water Day…and I have mixed feelings of concern, and gratitude.

It concerns me that although glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, water privatization is an issue, and water contamination continues to plague the world – even 17 years after the formal declaration by The United Nations, International Water Day – March 22 – seems to be only a small drip in the daily news cycle. Yet this year’s theme, Clean Water for a Healthy World makes me feel grateful and fortunate to be able to simply turn a faucet and either bathe or drink water, freely.

According to the World Health Organization, (WHO), 4 billion cases of diarrhea each year in addition to millions of other cases of illness are associated with lack of access to water that is safe for human consumption. Per year 2.2 million people die as a result of diarrhea most of them are children under the age of five.  Human health is severely impacted by water-related diseases (waterborne, water-washed, water-based, and water-related vector-borne infections) as well as by chemical pollution discharged to water.

As a New Yorker, I’m truly impressed by our daily access to tap water, as well as its rather low level of contaminants.  But a few years ago tested our water, found some impurities, and conducted an extensive search to find the best way to filter our home’s tap water.  We wholeheartedly recommend ZeroWater’s water Tester Meter and Z-Pitcher for filtering your kitchen’s tap water.  And a Lifekind shower filter to ensure healthy bathing…we love the addition of the handy wand on a particular one of their Shower De-chlorinators.  

You can pickup the ZeroWater items on our OpenSky shop; and we’d love to know what you think of them.  At this time, we don’t offer the Lifekind shower filter, but you can learn more about it, here.

For filtered tap water on the go, we also recommend (and sell) the Water Geeks stainless steel, BPA-free, reusable water bottle with a built-in filter that’s easily replaceable, as needed.  The Water Geeks bottle may be a bit pricier than other reusable bottles, but bear in mind that you can refill that bottle with tap water ANYwhere, and be assured that it’s clean and fresh-tasting…note: it’s available in 2 sizes and many different colors.

Water Day or not — let’s all strive to appreciate and conserve as much or this precious commodity as we can.

Related:  previously on altCon – Useful links to inspire action – Is Your Glass Half-full?

Free and Easy Ways to Conserve Water

Bottled Water – the enemy

garbage island – a sea of floating toxicity

Check out the film, FLOW…you’ll never buy another bottle of water.

This Stewart+Brown Storm Print Fleur Tie Tunic – beams like a fresh bouquet of spring flowers – this fun, kicky, organic cotton frock has one more great attribute…it’s on sale!   Features an attached tie that doubles as a scarf or a bow; and subtle, bishop sleeves.

$42 marked down from $128 @ thegreenloop.com

“Welcome to the darker side of green,” reads the Lexus Web site in regard to the upcoming arrival of its newest hybrid offering. Marked by the traditional “h” moniker, the 2011 CT 200h is a five-door hatchback, sporty in stance but eco  in cred. Underneath the hood of the luxury car, drivers will find a 1.8-liter Continuously Variable Valve Timing with intelligence engine, mated with a high-output electric drive motor.

What’s really happening is this: Lexus is dropping its touted Hybrid Drive technology into a compact car for the first time, emphasizing fun-to-drive attitude in eco-friendly fashion. All the driver needs to do is shift into “Sport” mode for faster response time on the open road… when crawling city streets, “EV” mode will run purely on the electric motor, “Normal” mode will handle like a traditional hybrid, while “Eco” mode reduces throttle response depending on the angle of the gas pedal–and also adjusts air conditioning settings for optimum fuel economy.

Essentially, by toggling through each of the four modes, drivers can craft an on-the-road experience that suits their auto attitude. After all, there are some days when even the most environmental of us just want to get out and drive. Fast. And look good doing so, naturally, which is easy thanks to a sleek aerodynamic exterior design. With smooth front and rear corners, tapered shaping and a low roof line, the CT 200h lends modern appeal in a look that’s just stylish enough to exude premium caliber without demanding the attention of Prius’ pie-slide profile.

While the car was initially designed for European audiences, Lexus has assured us it will be available to the U.S. and Japan as well, most likely in the first quarter of 2011, with pricing rumored to start under $30,000.

Related: previously on altCon -  Cars and Transportation

• Live Earth Run for Water…Largest Global Water Movement in History Gains Speed – prnewswire
• Wave power potential – somebody is going to get this right…Scotland Gets Serious About Sea Power – enn
• Counter-intuitive…Fire Can be Good for Global Warming – npr
• A guy in his home office in Wales accesses a telescope in Hawaii…Amateur’s Desktop Comet Discovery – bbc
• Call me a cynic – but doesn’t self interest usually trump greater good? Cruise Lines Hope to Sink U.S.-Canada Pollution Plan – reuters
• Think about it – illegal wildlife trade aided by internet…Demise of Coral and Salamanders Show Impact of the Web – myway