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***Update:
After a lot of work, and fixing unexpected problems, the water supply issue was resolved by the Dept of Public Utilities. I was without any water for nearly 48 hours. Some folks were without for longer than that!
The impact spread to the counties, which somewhat rely on the city system. Initially, the counties disengaged from the city system. But when the city water came back on, the counties also issued boil water advisories.
It was definitely a test of my emergency preparedness, which I found kinda lacking! I THOUGHT I had about 4 days of drinking water stored, when in reality, it was more like 2 days.
I THOUGHT I had a couple days of water for flushing toilets, when it really was more like 1 day!
So I will have to give some more thought to adding more water to my supply stash!
***
Other thoughts -- I was pleased with how many texts went around between me and my friends all around the city and also texts with nearby neighbors. Questions, suggestions, complaining, just keeping in touch, etc.
It was very nice to keep in touch during what was a pretty stressful event. Just deciding where / how to use the bathroom became a chore. Decision point: if it is pee, then it can sit without flushing. If it's more than pee...then is there enough water to flush?
When we ran out of stored flush water, some of us used dehumidifier water for flushing. Others melted snow.
Yes, water was available at the stores, but do you really want to buy fancy spring water, smart water, etc. to pour into the toilet tank? The answer is probably no, but I did do that just that once for lack of flush water.
🔶Beginning of original post🔶
First new year's gift is a boil water advisory! Which was really a "No more water coming from the tap advisory. Surprise! Happy Epiphany!"
The snow and ice storm -- although not very bad -- caused a power outage, and the city's water pumping stations "malfunctioned". It sounds as if it will take several days to get back up and running and flush the system.
In the meantime, we are to boil water before use. I noticed about 4pm that my toilet didn't refill after I used it. Then I got notice in a text from a friend to buy some water because there was a problem. So I went into what I call "country mode" -- having grown up in the country and having had to deal with power outages when our water pump for the well would not work.
I immediately went out and bought a few liters of water at the gas station. Then I found about 10 liters of water I had bought for emergencies earlier this year. And I can always boil water as I need it.
I had a Mormon friend once who suggested that after finishing a bleach jug...to put water in it, date it, and then use it for flushing toilets if necessary. And I have done that sometimes over the years. I think 2020 was a good year for "eau de toilette"!
Having said that, I think the water pressure is better now than it was, so I'm hoping the toilets will start to flush normally.
After a lot of work, and fixing unexpected problems, the water supply issue was resolved by the Dept of Public Utilities. I was without any water for nearly 48 hours. Some folks were without for longer than that!
The impact spread to the counties, which somewhat rely on the city system. Initially, the counties disengaged from the city system. But when the city water came back on, the counties also issued boil water advisories.
It was definitely a test of my emergency preparedness, which I found kinda lacking! I THOUGHT I had about 4 days of drinking water stored, when in reality, it was more like 2 days.
I THOUGHT I had a couple days of water for flushing toilets, when it really was more like 1 day!
So I will have to give some more thought to adding more water to my supply stash!
***
Other thoughts -- I was pleased with how many texts went around between me and my friends all around the city and also texts with nearby neighbors. Questions, suggestions, complaining, just keeping in touch, etc.
It was very nice to keep in touch during what was a pretty stressful event. Just deciding where / how to use the bathroom became a chore. Decision point: if it is pee, then it can sit without flushing. If it's more than pee...then is there enough water to flush?
When we ran out of stored flush water, some of us used dehumidifier water for flushing. Others melted snow.
Yes, water was available at the stores, but do you really want to buy fancy spring water, smart water, etc. to pour into the toilet tank? The answer is probably no, but I did do that just that once for lack of flush water.
🔶Beginning of original post🔶
First new year's gift is a boil water advisory! Which was really a "No more water coming from the tap advisory. Surprise! Happy Epiphany!"
The snow and ice storm -- although not very bad -- caused a power outage, and the city's water pumping stations "malfunctioned". It sounds as if it will take several days to get back up and running and flush the system.
In the meantime, we are to boil water before use. I noticed about 4pm that my toilet didn't refill after I used it. Then I got notice in a text from a friend to buy some water because there was a problem. So I went into what I call "country mode" -- having grown up in the country and having had to deal with power outages when our water pump for the well would not work.
I immediately went out and bought a few liters of water at the gas station. Then I found about 10 liters of water I had bought for emergencies earlier this year. And I can always boil water as I need it.
I had a Mormon friend once who suggested that after finishing a bleach jug...to put water in it, date it, and then use it for flushing toilets if necessary. And I have done that sometimes over the years. I think 2020 was a good year for "eau de toilette"!
Having said that, I think the water pressure is better now than it was, so I'm hoping the toilets will start to flush normally.