Water is an essential element to our existence. But we have not always appreciated its finite and fragile qualities. It is the critical element that helps to create and sustain life and we must immediately address the formidable challenge of water quality and storage.

Global climate change has shifted our hydrological systems so that we now periodically experience drought and record precipitation. As recent experience shows us, without water, fragile ecosystems are compromised and we face drastic water conservation measures. We also know, via the tragic example of Flint, Michigan, that aging infrastructure has unseen consequences for drinking water supplies.

Here in the Valley, water is often a luxury that many of us take for granted. We have beautiful ponds and rivers for boating and swimming and clean water to drink. However, keeping our water clean is difficult and requires constant monitoring. Stormwater run-off is a pollutant that we have barely begun to address. It is critical to understand how water moves through our man-made environment and the human interactions that contribute to its degree of quality.

We must formulate innovative and practical solutions and strategies for the sustainability of clean and sufficient water. For example, creating and protecting greenspace shouldn’t only be about beautification and providing a place to picnic but should serve the further purpose of storing and cleaning our water.

Or new parking lots can be designed with bioswales and rain gardens rather than having the stormwater flow directly into drains.

Locally, the Mill River flows through the region on its route to the Connecticut River. The landscapes along its path range from primarily agricultural and forested areas in the northern section of the watershed to the channelization of its tributary, the Tan Brook, through downtown Amherst. The water’s route affects the long-term viability of the water. Basically, what we do in our farm fields and downtown parking lots can affect the Connecticut River and ultimately the Long Island Sound.

The level of development varies along the Mill River and Tan Brook and determines how we manage the resource. This naturally occurring water feature has been manipulated to the extent that, in some cases, its exact route has been lost. In downtown Amherst, the Tan Brook is piped for large distances through the Amherst middle and high schools, emerges briefly and then disappears underground again.

Run-off from major storm events can change the dynamics of the brook in an instant and wreak havoc on roads and habitats along its banks.

Understanding how significantly human interaction impacts water resources as well as how we can mitigate climate change is an important piece of environmental education. We are lucky in this region to have the Hitchcock Center for the Environment and Hampshire College building structures that are achieving the highest levels of water sustainability through the Living Building Challenge. New buildings at both institutions have closed-loop, net-zero water systems. This means that they are 100 percent re-circulating and re-charging.

In one wall of the new Hitchcock Center this is demonstrated for visitors. As new generations grow up with this as a norm they will better understand how to protect and conserve the hydrological systems they are inheriting.

For all of us in the Valley, creating sustainable solutions for water quality, water storage, storm event management and climate change mitigation is an immediate priority. Let’s develop a common strategy to protect and conserve our water resources and work together to plan for our children’s future.

The Hitchcock Center and Hampshire College have set a fine example; let’s join them in being at the forefront of environmental education, sustainability, and design for a healthier planet.

Sarah la Cour is executive director of the Amherst Business Improvement District. She is a candidate for state representative for the 3rd Hampshire District.