Yesterday afternoon we had a good rain. I was able to capture enough rain water to flush all commodes and refill the tanks.
Yesterday evening the water started to come back. By 8:00 P.M. there was enough pressure for me to take a shower. You never realize how good a hot shower is until you can’t have one.
I had hoped that I would wake up this morning and the water problem would be over. I got up at 6:00 A.M. And still had pressure. Not a lot, but enough. I thought may there was enough to wash a load of clothes. Not a large load, but enough to get clean socks. I loaded the washer and started it and could see the water pressure was minimal.
I started refilling all of my water bottles. Then the pressure got low enough that the clothes washer was not getting water. I turned it off. I still had a dribble coming from the outside sink, so I filled the washer enough for the clothes to soak. I hope they don’t soak for too many days.
It is now 7:00 A.M. And once again I have no water. Luckily, this has only happened to me a couple times a year in the past. I can handle three days. However, another three days, after a short respite, will be getting to my limit.
Now before I start getting another rash of comments telling me I am stupid for not just buying a large reservoir tank to tide me over for a few days, That is not a solution for me. I am in an apartment and the builders/owners of this and other apartments elected to eliminate the expense of providing a reservoir for the building.
I would be surprised if many, if any, apartments in David are equipped with such a system. Now if I was in a house, then I could and would have at minimum a 800 gallon tank combined with a pressure tank and pump to give enough pressure to have a decent shower.
However, if I had a house, I would not be able to take off for a month long vacation and expect to come back with a single item of furniture in my house, unless I had a trusted person to live there while I was gone.
So life is a matter of trade offs. Everything is not perfect. Somethings less so than others. Paradise is in the eye of the beholder. Compared to many, I still live in paradise.
UPDATE: It is now 7:50 and it appears I am starting to have water again. It could be that the tremendous load on the water system, with everyone getting up and ready for the day, was the problem. However, for the moment, I have hope.
Dear Don,
As a plumber, may I suggest that you check the aerators on your faucets, your shower head, and the screens on your washing machine supply hoses for any potential accumulation of “line trash”. This is a typical result of water main repairs, the introduction of particulates into the distribution system, which will significantly reduce available volume at each point-of-use.
Every homeowner should have a medium channel-lock plier and a crescent wrench (or “spanner” for our friends from across the pond).
Important note! Turn off the supply bibs before you attempt to remove the washing machine hoses!!
Also be aware that some faucet aerators have quite a few little bits in the assembly — take careful note of how it is built before you take it apart. Sometimes the rubber washer will remain in the body of the spout when you pull the aerator. Pull it out with your bitty finger and seat it properly before you thread the aerator back on. Fine threads require a deft touch, and make sure you hold your mouth right! I usually poke the tip of my tongue out the left corner, and make sure that my eyebrows are properly scrunched-up.
Many modern shower heads incorporate a “flow restrictor” which can likewise become clogged.
So-called “whole house” water filters will also reduce volume if not regularly maintained.
Last friendly tip for the day: Lefty-loosey; rightey-tighty…
Hi Wryawry. Yes those things might apply, but not in this case. My problem is just getting the water pressure high enough to pump the water up to my floor.
I totally understand your ‘apartment living’ rationale and couldn’t agree more. I moved into the hotel when I first got here while I looked for a place to settle in. Four years later I am still here and quit looking long ago. My downtown location means virtually everything I need on a daily basis is within about two blocks, and most ‘necessities’ I can see from my window.
But, like you, I recognized my ‘security problem’ early-on. A guy living by himself who travels back to the States for a month at a time twice a year, and does ‘drop-of-a-hat’ tourist adventures frequently, would have a real security problem even in the best of David neighborhoods. The hotel people do a great job, even chastizing me when I return a day later than I told them at the end of my month journey. Oops!
We seldom have total water outages in the hotel, BUT the hotel does not have a storage tank either. And low water pressure, either low system pressure or pressure drops due to multi-users in the hotel, mean we live most of the day with very low and fluctuating pressure. Before you get to far in the taking a shower process you go turn on the shower and do a pressure check. All too often it is a, “Oh well, later…”
Yes, Paradise does have some shortcomings. But….
A little discouraging to know that one cannot leave one’s house without having all of their furniture removed from it. Is this a joke or just an exaceration? I assume you lock your doors when you leave and have someone come by an watch the house regularly? Would this be more city behaviour rather than small town? Interested to get your comments Don.
Alan
They don’t put bars on the windows for the fun of it. You leave any house unattended for a month and I will practically guarantee something will be missing when you return. Most likely the things will disappear first will be money, computers and TVs. How much else leaves will depend on the ease of access and the value.
I have known people that were working in their backyard and left the front door unlocked and laptops were taken. And lots of time this happened in a five minute time period. The more people that have been in your house the higher likelihood you will be robbed. Maids and othe laborers tell friends what you have and what your schedule is.
This is in response to Alan. It doesn’t have to be a month. A few years ago I left my home, walked a block to the bus parada, and returned three hours later. Thieves pulled into my driveway while I was gone, smashed the security door, the inner door and loaded all my furniture and appliances into a truck and drove off — in broad daylight. They were never caught. Security IS a big deal anywhere in Central America and in the border states in the US.
Bob
Hi Don… if you want to talk to the owner or the building administration.. I own an engineering contractor company … so I can make a quote for you in order to solve your problems. 10 000 liters.. reservoir or more.. pump systems pressure tanks… as you need.
Company SEINTEC, Servicios de Ingenieria Técnica.
my email. hsuira@gruposeintec.com
cell. 66752046
Hi Harmodio. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I will wait till the boss returns.
I have a half serious suggestion for your water problem, Don. Buy a water bed. Then you will at least have enough water for toilet use and hand washing. Of course, the downside is that once you drain the bed you’ll be sleeping on the floor!
jim and nena
fort worth, tx
I am happy to see that humor still exists in the area of the country that has been suffering the hottest summer ever.