From today's The Hindu newspaper--

Headline: "Over 3000 rural habitations face drinking water shortage"

"About 3300 rural habitations in [Tamil Nadu] require relief measures for drinking water supply in the wake of the failure of the south-west monsoon...

"The relief works will be taken up in areas where the service level has declined below 10litres per capita per day, or is expected to go down in the coming months. The ultimate purpose will be to ensure a minimum supply of 10litres per capita per day in rural areas...

"Under the normal circumstances, the government norms stipulate that rural habitations have the service level of 40litres per capita per day...

"Digging new borewells/infiltration/open wells, deepening or desilting of existing wells and replacement of pumpsets are amont the measures proposed..."

There is much more detail in this article, mostly about funding and beauracratic oversight, but the main point is this: large parts of rural southern India are living on less that 2.5 gallons of water per person per day.

Here is an exercise for you--try to visualize yourself drinking... cooking... cleaning... bathing... doing everything you do each day... and now visualize yourself doing in on only 2.5 gallons... oh, and don't forget... you have to walk upwards of 3-10kilometres each way just to get the water...

Even more challenging, forget the visualization--tomorrow why not walk to the nearest river, pond, or fountain... fill a bucket... carry it home... and drink... cook... clean... and bathe on that water...

This is the reality of life for millions of people around the world... and for thousands here in southern India...

This is also just a thumbnail sketch for why drilling new borewells is so crucial to improving the quality of life for people in rural India...

Pray about how you can join me in figuring out a way to bring some cool... clear... water... to southern India!