Agua

Did you know that:
-Each person uses about 100 gallons of water a day at home
-The average automatic dishwasher uses 9-12 gallons of water while hand washing dishes can take up to 20 gallons and many precious hours          
-The average 5 minute shower takes between 20-50 gallons of water
-The average toilet uses 2 gallons of clean water in a single flush

So...I feel like it is the same story over and over, I was home only eleven days this summer so when it was time for me to come home for a stretch of time I was beyond excited, practically jumping out of my skin.  And of course when I get here the internet is out, we run out of water, Alex has lice( 'tis the season) and we cannot get it under control because we cannot wash linens. And I am scratching my head as I write this, sure that I have lice as well.   I can live without the internet, actually it is very nice, the water is another thing.  So what happened was that the pump that water to the tinanco from the cistern has blown up.  We ran out of water on the 7th, today is the 18th.  Pump is not even close to being fixed.

We have had bouts of creativity, good luck, discovery, something to help us along.
A tinanco is a large water tank that usually sits on the top of every single building in Mexico to feed water to that building.  Our house has two tinancos, only one of which is connected to the house, not sure why the other is there but we have learned to keep it full to use as the "oh shit" tinanco. We learned that when the city turns on the water, which is usually on Tuesday and Thursday it will fill the tinancos without the pump working, we have used rain water and even discovered how to borrow water from our neighbor.  We were so happy until we saw that the water was green.

Here is how it has gone:
Ran out of water on Sunday
Used 5 gallon buckets to fill with the lower tinanco water to clean dishes, take sponge baths and flush toilets
The city turned on water so we fill the tinancos on tuesday and thursday and washed clothes and linens all day, took showers, tried to kill lice
From thursday thru today, wednesday we have done everything to conserve water, ie. used the lower tinanco, not shower and instead take sponge baths out of a 5 gallon bucket, only flush when necessary and when you are dealing with the heat and humidity here necessary is very often.

Yesterday we ran out of the lower tinanco water just as I was washing the last of the dishes and the city has yet to turn on the water.  So, we have no water and the buckets are empty, crap!  Oh wait, here comes more rain, yeah, I can collect rain water in my buckets so we can at least flush the toilets.  I have given up on trying to fight the lice, just not possible right now.  Oh well, I leave here on Thursday to go back to work, hopefully without any critters, Ozzy can deal with the rest.

Water is very precious and necessary, as are systems that get the water to you.  I have learned this over and over since I have lived in Mexico.  But as of late I have also realized how much water we actually use since I have been carrying it all in with 5 gallon buckets.  We use a ton of water even when conserving.

My 5 gallon buckets,  it is necessary to make sure these are always full

Trace helping me fill the bucket with the tinanco water

Me carrying my bucket in to do the dishes

Oh good, here comes more rain so I can collect rain water

My last go to, collecting rain water that pours off the roof.  No we do not cook or wash dishes with this water.

Still no water and it looks like the rain has let up.  I guess we are dead in the uh.. water?  I leave tomorrow for a first stop at my parents house.  I will be bringing a trash bag full of dirty laundry, just like college, and will be taking a nice long hot shower.  I feel sorry for all of the people who have to sit beside me on my three leg, 12 hour journey.