In an article written by Jason Grotto in the June issue of The Rotarian magazine, I learned that less than 3 percent of water found on planet Earth is fresh. He stated, “Of that amount, more than 60 percent is trapped in glaciers, 30 percent is located underground and just 3 percent can be tapped from lakes and rivers.

“If you could fit all of the world’s water into a gallon jug, the amount of safe water available for human consumption would equal about 1 teaspoon.” Grotto added that the world’s population is estimated to increase roughly by 74 million every year until 2015, and that more than one billion people around the globe lacked access to safe drinking water. As population increases, potable water decreases.

In view of all this, I became very interested and concerned about our own drinking water, and where and how it is obtained. So I contacted Mr. Jim Brugh, regional manager of the Louisiana Water Co., New Iberia, who kindly furnished me with some valuable information which I’m passing on to you.

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He stated that our potable drinking water comes from an underground geological aquifer called the Chico Aquifer. “This aquifer,” he said, “is an extensive coastal-plain aquifer that extends from Brownsville, Texas, across Louisiana. It is an abundant producer of water, and has been producing water for public water supply, industrial usage and irrigation for more than 100 years.”

He describes the aquifer as consisting of several layers of sand wherein the water is contained, and flows underground slowly in a generally northwesterly direction.

“The aquifer water bearing sands,” he said, “range in depth from 120 feet to 800 feet below the ground’s surface. Above these sands exists an alluvial layer of silt and blue clays that seal this aquifer from the contamination of surface water. The Chicot Aquifer is recharged through hydraulic and osmotic pressures gradually from surface water from the Mississippi Delta system and in some part from the Atchafalaya River.”

Brugh pointed out New Iberia’s water is pumped from one of seven water wells from the Chicot Aquifer water bearing sands to ground surface, and, ultimately, to the company’s water treatment plant at 316 W. Main St. Once it reaches the treatment plant, it goes through a process of aeration to strip the carbon dioxide from the water.

It is then mixed with lime and clarified to soften the water and to remove metals like iron and manganese from the water, “Also,” he added, “chlorine is added for disinfection during the clarification process. From there, it travels to one of 15 sand filters and ultimately delivered to the customer. The water treatment plant has the capacity to treat about 15 million gallons per day. Our average is about 7 million gallons per day.”

And there you have it! Potable water is very important to our lives and well being. I learned a long time ago that fresh drinking water is our most precious commodity. Ironically, it is our cheapest commodity, but we must not waste or abuse it. Our thanks go out to the Louisiana Water Co., and also the city of New Iberia for their longtime dependable service in bringing this vital substance into our homes.

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Helen’s birthday and mine happen about a week apart, and we were delighted with all the cards, gifts and phone calls we received from family and friends. While we were celebrating Helen’s birthday dinner at the Yellow Bowl, a wonderful thing happened.

Our good friend and restaurant owner Colleen Roberts Hulin, her husband T.K., and her waitresses gathered and sang “Happy Birthday.” T.K. Hulin, who is one of the most popular singers in Iberia Parish, led the singing. Furthermore, nearly everyone in the place got into the act — it was a most exciting and heartwarming experience.

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One of the longest obituaries I’ve ever read appeared in The Daily Iberian on July 31. It was in reference to the passing of Mary-Ingrid N. Jones. She deserved every bit of it, and my sincere thanks go out to the person who wrote it. Mary-Ingrid was a saintly person. She was a wonderful, modest, genuine, pleasant lady — very religious and well-educated.

She and her fine husband, Williams Jones, were genial hosts. On my visits, we reminisced about the old days, and, to my enjoyment, I always found them seeped in area history. They encouraged me in my area research and writings, and I still have copies of a stack of poems and articles she wrote and gave to me — these I shall cherish. May she rest in peace.

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I don’t know why Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson was given such a hard time just because he stashed away $90,000 in his freezer. He was only trying to cool off some hot money.

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The Rev. Father Wilson Matt recently celebrated his 91st birthday, and we find him still agile and vigorous. In July, we were honored with a nice visit from the Padre, and learned he had a bad experience while traveling to Baldwin on a Sunday morning to celebrate a Mass — his car caught on fire in the vicinity of Landry’s Restaurant on U.S. 90. Good Samaritans, black and white alike, came to the rescue and put out the blaze.

His car’s demise didn’t stop Father Matt from continuing his religious routines. He borrowed a van from a relative and continues to celebrate Masses in the area. He is someone special — we wish him the best.

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I’ve learned that the name “bayou” is derived from the Choctaw Indian word “bayuk.” I also found out that before the word “hello” was introduced into our language, “ahoy” was used. It was Thomas Edison who eventually coined the word “hello.” But, mes amis, I wonder who coined the expression, “bye, bye” — I’m sure it wasn’t me.

Bye, bye.

MORRIS RAPHAEL is a local author and retired engineer.