If 2020 hasn’t been rough enough – South Coasters have been hit with another challenge – days without water, aka dry taps.
Not a drop, skat!
The not-so-funny thing is that we have had days of heavy rain but no water from our taps.
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My recent new status of being a ratepayer has come with a lot of responsibility, and less money in my bank account.
Six days on and I have no water.
Never a dull moment on the coast – this week our little seaside town faced the news of a suspended municipal manager followed by valve sabotage.
Sabotage by who? That’s another story for another day.
Just too much faulty valve business going on for my liking.
Luckily my new home came with a small water tank. But, no pump means carting buckets of water to and from the tank to the house.
After fishing out the leaves and a drowned earthworm, I’ve had a couple of bucket baths.
By now I’m sure most South Coasters are professional bucket bathers.
If you don’t know what a bucket bath is, it entails filling up a large bucket and then using a small bucket to pour the water by dipping it into the big bucket.
I try to make it a slightly better experience by boiling some water in the kettle to add to the cold water.
If the last two weeks have taught me anything it is the appreciation of this precious resource and the simple pleasure of running water.
This is if I am fortunate to have electricity.
Ja, I’m literally pulling my hair out with frustration.
My home feels grimy and my patience levels are running low.
I can bet my bottom dollar that I will receive a statement at the end of the month with a ‘basic charge’ fee.
Lo and behold if we don’t pay it.
True’s Bob, every December the coast is hit by a flood of water issues before or during the arrival of our holidaymakers.
Not all of us can afford a borehole, a water tank or a pump.
Many of us are also getting fed-up paying high rates, basic service charges and receiving ZERO in return.
Hauling out the extension cord, the weed-eater followed by a bucket bath makes for a thrilling Saturday morning.
We have also become such an apathetic community about this on-going nonsense.
Honestly, we need to stop accepting this as the ‘norm’ and stand up as a community and fight for our basic human rights.
And will we be saying cheerio to our municipal manager? Who can say for sure?
What a waterless ride it has been!
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