Collaboration is key

In celebration of World Water Day on March 22, an informal gathering of 30 people working with water was held at the Unity Pavilion. The morning session brought water scientists, healers, engineers, administrators, educators and more, as well as a few curious guests, together to share information on their water-related projects, discuss water concerns in Auroville, and brainstorm possible modes of collaboration. The group readily acknowledged that the Auroville bioregion water situation is in crisis mode, and generally agreed that collaboration is necessary to move forward. Information gathering emerged as a critical first step in collaboration, as many lamented the significant loss of water data collection since 2008. Many also valued increased communication between those working on water projects within Auroville, suggesting that similar meetings take place more regularly. One comment, that you don't have to be a water expert to join in the process, received an enthusiastic show of support.

In the afternoon, three different people presented their current work on water to a smaller group of 17 people. The first was on water treatment and quality protection, the second on the crystallography of water, and finally a presentation on healing through water (Watsu).

While water projects have been going on since Auroville's inception, organizers hoped that this World Water Day event would mark a turning point to recognize the need for collaboration within the Auroville water community.