Speech Series

8/12/2019 Speech Series

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Jason Kircher

Comm 201

Speech Series

I. What am I? GameA. Water is the most basic element of life.B. Americans are blessed to have access to a supply of clean, drinkablewater.

II. There is a complex process involved in bringing this preciousresource to the consumer.

A. Water in the US comes from two different sources.1. Groundwater is drilled out of the ground (shallow or deep).

a) EPA says more water systems pull out of groundwater.b) According to the US Geological Survey (2005), 20% isgroundwater.

2. Second source in US is surface water.a) Surface water includes oceans, rivers, lakes, i.e. wateraccessible without drilling.

b) More people drink surface water USGS says 80% of large-scale water systems is surface water.

B. Both sources must be processed to meet health and safetystandards.

1. Coagulation is where chemicals are added to the recently tappedwater.

a) This creates floc, a sticky substance that attracts dirtparticles

b) This now heavy floc settles to the bottom of treatmenttanks, and taken out of the water supply.2. Filtration is when water passes through filters to separate waterfrom undesired particles.

a) Sand, charcoal, and gravel all used as filters.b) These filters remove clay and small microorganisms


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Jason Kircher

Comm 201

Speech Series

3. Disinfection is the final step.a) Chlorine is added to ensure the killing of all contaminantsb) Disinfection is the most important advancement inproducing clean, and healthy, drinking water

III. Americans take clean and available water for granted, butits the result of a complex and important process.

A. Recap sources and cleaning processB. Next time you go for a drink of water, remember that it is actuallyway more than just a faucet away.


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Jason Kircher

Comm 201

Speech Series

I. Whats it feel like when you run out of something?A. Running out forces you to give something up in order to replace it.B. Thesis: America is running out of water.

II. Water consumption in the US is higher than waterreplacement.

A. One of the largest sources of groundwater is the High PlainsAquifer. (USGS Scientific Intelligence Report in 2011)

Eight states pull from it, such as Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico,1.

and Texas. It is used mostly for irrigation in farming, plus 2 million

domestic drinkers.

Water level has dropped 14 feet since about 1950.2.

Total water has declined about 274 million acre-feet (about3.113,000 Olympic size swimming pools).

B. Lake Michigan provides freshwater for the Chicago-land area,specifically for Wheaton.

For over the decade, Lake Michigan water levels have been lower1.

than the long-term mean, and are expected to stay that way (Great Lakes

Environmental Research Lab, Sept 2011)

33 million people drink from Lake Michigan daily, not to mention2.

the business and industry from the many cities around it

(Environment Illinois) reports that only 1 percent of water used3.

from Lake Michigan is replaced.

C. Drought in the US contributes to the problem.Recall the water cycle (USGS Water Cycle)1.

Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation happen; buta.we take water out of the cycle.

Nearly 12 percent of contiguous United States were classified in2.

exceptional drought period in July (US Drought Monitor)

Much of this area is found in the South3.


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Jason Kircher

Comm 201

Speech Series

Texas is in the worst condition. Also, Texas is drawing morea.

and more water from the High Plains Aquifer.

In Arizona, water is piped in from California to meet the high4.

demand of the fast growing city of Phoenix.

D. Critics might argue that with new desalination technology,freshwater is no longer an issue.

If we can convert ocean water into freshwater, we will never run1.

out, right?

However, desalination only accounts for less than 1% of total2.

water consumption (according to the USGS), so its not practically reliable

right now.

Desalination is currently more expensive than more drilling or3.

even importing water for many countries when it comes to agricultural

use.

III. The supply of freshwater in America is on the decline.A. Recap reasons. Water consumption outpaces water replacement inthe American water cycle. Large-scale drought makes it worse.

B. Its time for Americans to change their mindset. There might bewater, water everywhere right now, but in the future there might not be adrop to drink.


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Jason Kircher

Comm 201

Speech Series

I. Describe a morning routineA. Use bathroom. Shower. Brush Teeth. Eat at Saga.B. Whats it like for those in the third world without access to cleanwater? Miles of walking, disease, loss of productivity, no education.

C. Without access to clean water, your routine never be the sameD. Instead of taking our ease of access to water for granted, supportLiving Water International to make clean water accessible for everyone.

II. A huge proportion of the worlds population has no accessto safe water.

A. According to the World Health Organization, 884 million peopledont have clean drinking water.

B. 1.8 million children die every year from unclean water and poorsanitation. That means after this speech is over, 20 children will have died.

(United Nations Development Programme)

C. The UN says that at any one time, half of the worlds hospital bedsare occupied with people suffering water-related diseases.

D. Water carrying hurts everyone.1. Mainly brought by girls in the family, so education not possible2. 40 billion working hours used for water in Africa (Cosgrove andRijsberman 1998)

3. That water could lead to diarrhea or intestinal worms.

III. This Christmas, ask for a Clean Water Gift Card from LivingWater International to go to the project of your choice.

A. Living Water International is a non-profit organization that trains,equips, and consults local people to implement water solutions in their

own countries.

1. Putting the projects in the hands of locals creates jobs, leads tosustainable water practices, and focuses the growth on each community


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Jason Kircher

Comm 201

Speech Series

B. They have completed more than 10,000 water projects in 26countries such as Angola, Kenya, and Rwanda.

C. Have a distinct Christian witness.1. Serve water to anyone and everyone in the community regardlessof belief

2. Share the redemptive story of Jesus without coercion ormanipulation.

3. Recognize Gods ongoing works, partner with Christians in areaD. Living water stewards its resources well

1. 85% of everything it takes in benefits families and communities inneed

2. Earned a Best in America seal from the Independent Charities ofAmerica

IV. Giving to Living Water impacts thousands of peopleA. 310 water projects have been completed in Ghana since 1998; 606in Kenya; 130 in Nigeria.

B. After well completion in the La Mosquitia region of Honduras,villages reported a 75% reduction in illnesses.

C. World Bank estimates that the cost to reach universal watercoverage is between 5 and 21 billion dollars.

D. In comparison, Americans spend around $200 billion on ChristmasV. This Christmas, join the conspiracy for clean water.

A. Dont celebrate Christmasas usual with more materialism.B. Ask for a $25 gift card to support clean water programs throughLiving Water International.

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Speech Series