Concept
As a planning commissioner I regularly encouraged city council and administration to initiate and implement water management ordinance language and municipal programs protecting rainwater and general water usage. Change occurs locally when residents actively petition elected officials face-to-face. An average of one hundred gallons of water are used daily per person in the US. Water in poor and developing nations is often transported by women who balance containers on their heads. Inspired by these women, I designed an occasion for residents to bring water to the door of City Hall to request attention to water management.

I imagine a dozen or so college students forming a river of water spirits which will wind its way to the Clawson City Hall.

Each student will wear a blue shirt screen printed with the Balance of Water symbol. The dozen or so blue shirts may be of the Salvation Army variety so that the variation in blues will be fairly wide. The intention being that the blues will reflect the variation found in an actual river. The students will balance water containers on top of their heads. This will support the actual carrying of water by third world women as well as the symbolic balance central to the overall water issue.

The human river may be repeated anywhere a group of like-minded water supporters gathers to petition their municipal leaders. I’m working on a printed guide to the Balance of Water which will serve to inform, entertain and encourage readers to learn more about how they can manage, conserve, protect and enjoy water. Anyone can be a Water Spirit!

Audience
Residents, business owners, city council and administration.

Process Book