Drinking… washing dishes… washing hands…
These are just a few among the things for which we rely upon reliable, clean, safe water. And they came into stark view this week.
Crews who have been boring underground on our end of town, installing right-of-way and fiber for a new fiberoptic internet service, cut through the water main servicing several neighborhoods, including our own, on Monday.
On mid-morning Monday, I took my usual break to wash the parts to the coffee maker and noticed the water pressure about half of what it was.
But the time I took a break for lunch, water would no longer come out of the faucets.
A call to the water company confirmed the situation. By the afternoon and early evening, word was out that it was going to take into the night or to the following morning to repair the water service, and after that we’d still be under a boil order for a couple of days.
Through the afternoon and evening on Monday, we found ourselves in a situation with no water - no flushing toilets, no showers, no cooking, no washing dishes…
For drinking at least, we fortunately had a stockpile of a few cases of water bottles here to make water consumption a bit more convenient (if less environmentally friendly).
But it’s been surprising to see how quickly we’ve gone through those cases.
This morning, I went through three bottles of water before, during, and after my morning run. Suzanne gave me a bit of a hard time as our supply is now dwindling, and reminded me that even our dogs are needing the clean, reliable water.
(After school drop off, I’ll be picking up another case, still in the hopes that the boil order is lifted this morning.)
How striking it has been, though, to realize how much we rely upon water.
And how ironic it has seemed, in the midst of the campaign that I’m spearheading to try to raise money for reliable water for the University of St. Joseph Mbarara. It’s almost like we’ve unexpectedly sprung into solidarity with them.
We’re fortunate to have resources available around us to survive more easily. For others, it’s harder - both here, and in other areas of the world.
I know that many of you have already given a good amount to the campaign for water at the University of St. Joseph.
I’d ask that you all please keep praying for and sharing the word about the campaign.
If you haven’t yet given and might be able to, please prayerfully consider doing so.
