Tallahassee residents walk for clean water

Aveda hosted a 4K run Sunday at Tom Brown Park to raise awareness about clean water.

Aveda, a large organization that branches off into salons, sells products ranging from skin care to hair care.

Stephanie Borras, owner of the Aveda-owned company Soleil 7 Hair Salon, said Aveda’s “Walk for Water” serves poorer countries.

“We raise money and partner with Gulf Restoration Network so that we can buy clean water and help poor countries,” Borras said.

Gulf Restoration Network is an organization that is committed to uniting and empowering people to protect and restore the natural resources of the Gulf of Mexico region.

According to Borras, there are some third-world countries such as India that have serious problems with clean water. Polluted water causes the people living in those countries to get sick.

“We go to third-world countries to give them fresh clean water,” Borras said. “There are moms that are traveling six miles a day (in third-world countries) to provide their children with fresh clean water to keep them from getting sick.”

Borras said Americans waste a lot of water and should not be taking it for granted.

“It is simple things, like turning the water off when you’re brushing your teeth instead of letting it run, that can make a big difference,” Borras said.

Cathy Harrelson, Florida organizer for the Gulf Restoration Network, was pleased with all of the supporters who came out for the event but said more people should support the cause.

Residences in Florida have been facing many challenges when it comes to having clean water. According to Harrelson, Floridians have two major issues regarding water.

“One, we have a lot of source pollution that flows into the water, not only from big industries and agriculture,” Harrelson said. “The second thing really is that we are using too much water. We are over-pumping water and allowing our water permits to be unmonitored and too expensive.”

Harrelson also noted that Florida’s water budget is the rain that falls and sinks down into the aquifer. However, the amount of rainfall Florida receives is not enough to make up for everything Floridians are taking out.

Layla Bowyer, an employee at an Aveda spa, said the reason she participated in the Walk for Water was to show support for her job and to give back to the community.

“I am here to support clean water and Aveda’s efforts, and also in giving back to clean water and those third-world countries that are in need of clean water,” Bowyer said.

Bowyer said more recycling should take place and people need to be aware that there is pollution in the environment.

“We take [clean water] for granted … our ecosystem survives on water,” Bowyer said.

Christian Waterval, a graduating senior and communications student at Florida State University, from Hollywood, Fla., said he supports the cause of fresh clean water and enjoyed participating in the walk.

“I am for clean water simply because it gives [humans] life,” Waterval said. “Seventy percent of the Earth is water, and we need it to survive on this planet. I enjoy the fact that I took part in this event because I am doing it to help those in third-world countries.”