It's amazing the things we take for granted back in the states. For instance, water. When we lived in Podunkville, the water tasted DISGUSTING. So we filled up 5 gallon jugs and had a water cooler. In restaurants, we either ordered lots of lemon wedges with the water or ordered a soda if the water tasted bad enough.
But here's the thing - it was still drinkable.
We brushed our teeth with it, we cooked with it, and our dogs drank it.
Now imagine if it wasn't potable. Imagine if it wasn't safe to drink the water coming out of your tap.
Welcome to New Delhi, India.
Our first night here, we asked our social sponsors about the tap water. Don't drink it, they said. Can the dogs drink it? No! And so began our adjustment to life without potable water.
We wake up in the morning and go to brush our teeth. We keep bottled water by our sink to rinse our mouths out with. Need to rinse your toothbrush? Don't do it with the tap water. It's taken some adjusting but we've gotten settled into the new way.
Time for a shower. Better keep your mouth closed. Did you just get water in your mouth? Don't swallow. You better spit it out.
The dogs need water. It'd be so easy to use the sink instead of trying to hold the big water bowl in one hand as it gets increasingly heavier while holding the water distiller knob down with the other.
Time to do dishes. Right. So how does that work? You can rinse the plates with the tap water. For bowls, silverware, and glasses you wash with the tap water and then rinse with the distilled water. Washing the dishes involves a large bowl of distilled water for the silverware and utensils and lots of swishing of distilled water in the bowls and glasses.
Wait, what about washing all of your produce off? That stuff isn't safe to eat without washing. That is a rather large process that involves several tubs of distilled water and a cleaning solution along with vigorous scrubbing. (Did I mention how thankful we are for John??)
And that's just the water in your HOUSE. There are precautions outside as well.
In a restaurant? Better not get ice in your drink. In fact, you better specify that you want bottled water and make sure they open it at your table. Some places have been known to fill water bottles with tap water. Did you get a soda? Don't drink it out of the can. Better pour it into a glass ... without ice or request a straw.
Thirsty while out and about? Be careful what you get. Bottled water is usually in an ice chest ... full of ice ... made out of non-potable water. The "superbugs" in the water are now all over that bottle. Better wipe it off REALLY well ... or have a straw on you. Same with the sodas.
You just have to be aware of everything going on and take the necessary precautions. I never leave the house without my Nalgene full of distilled water. And we're always on guard when eating out. There's only been one accident when Stewart had a fountain soda (made with local water) but he got really lucky and didn't get sick.
Living here is an adventure for sure!
But here's the thing - it was still drinkable.
We brushed our teeth with it, we cooked with it, and our dogs drank it.
Now imagine if it wasn't potable. Imagine if it wasn't safe to drink the water coming out of your tap.
Welcome to New Delhi, India.
Our first night here, we asked our social sponsors about the tap water. Don't drink it, they said. Can the dogs drink it? No! And so began our adjustment to life without potable water.
We wake up in the morning and go to brush our teeth. We keep bottled water by our sink to rinse our mouths out with. Need to rinse your toothbrush? Don't do it with the tap water. It's taken some adjusting but we've gotten settled into the new way.
Time for a shower. Better keep your mouth closed. Did you just get water in your mouth? Don't swallow. You better spit it out.
The dogs need water. It'd be so easy to use the sink instead of trying to hold the big water bowl in one hand as it gets increasingly heavier while holding the water distiller knob down with the other.
Time to do dishes. Right. So how does that work? You can rinse the plates with the tap water. For bowls, silverware, and glasses you wash with the tap water and then rinse with the distilled water. Washing the dishes involves a large bowl of distilled water for the silverware and utensils and lots of swishing of distilled water in the bowls and glasses.
Wait, what about washing all of your produce off? That stuff isn't safe to eat without washing. That is a rather large process that involves several tubs of distilled water and a cleaning solution along with vigorous scrubbing. (Did I mention how thankful we are for John??)
And that's just the water in your HOUSE. There are precautions outside as well.
In a restaurant? Better not get ice in your drink. In fact, you better specify that you want bottled water and make sure they open it at your table. Some places have been known to fill water bottles with tap water. Did you get a soda? Don't drink it out of the can. Better pour it into a glass ... without ice or request a straw.
Thirsty while out and about? Be careful what you get. Bottled water is usually in an ice chest ... full of ice ... made out of non-potable water. The "superbugs" in the water are now all over that bottle. Better wipe it off REALLY well ... or have a straw on you. Same with the sodas.
You just have to be aware of everything going on and take the necessary precautions. I never leave the house without my Nalgene full of distilled water. And we're always on guard when eating out. There's only been one accident when Stewart had a fountain soda (made with local water) but he got really lucky and didn't get sick.
Living here is an adventure for sure!
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