Have you ever heard of the two-bucket method?

I hadn’t heard of it until last week when our well ran dry.

We’re now using the two-bucket method to flush our toilet.

It’s hard to put into words what it’s like to live without any water.

Essentially, everything is a chore:

• Washing our hands – bowl in the sink with a bit of water and some dish soap
• Making a meal – it’s difficult to cook without using water
• Getting a drink – we’re buying big jugs of water
• Showering – fortunately we have friends and Marc’s parents who have offered us their showers
• Flushing the toilet – the two-bucket method works but it’s tricky and if you get it wrong it uses a lot of water
• Laundry – we’re doing it at Marc’s parents in Barrhaven

For about a week now, we’ve been thinking and obsessing about water. It’s funny how much you take something like water for granted until you don’t have it.

I try to remind myself that we’re very fortunate and that there are worse shituations.
But I have to admit, some days I’m running a little low on optimism and a balanced perspective.

Looks like we’ll be drilling a new well. I shudder to think of the cost. But we don’t have an alternative.

Unfortunately we created this drought and overarching climate change reality by ignoring the signs as far back as the 1980’s. It’s only when it hits home that we have a tinge of regret.

Last week the Ottawa Citizen reported on what it’s like to live without water and to have a dry well.

It’s a very well reported and written article. I urge you to read it and think about your water usage and how you can cut back.

What It Means When the Ottawa Region Has A Severe Rainfall Deficit

Even if you live in a large city or town with municipal water, you will feel the impacts of drought (i.e climate change)—higher food prices, fewer birds, bees, animals, power outages, increased fires, power air quality, higher risk of Lyme disease, and the list goes on.

This word sums up what life without water is like: Discombobulating.