Monday, October 15, 2007

No water

The well pump died yesterday. No water, not a trickle to be had. We've been waiting all day for the well men to squeeze us in and hooray! the cavalry has arrived! There's a lot of pipe running down our driveway and some rewiring going on. Hopefully soon we will have water again. The good news is that there is water in the well*. I was a little worried as Little Creek is just a faint trickle and the three springs on the property are mere mud pits at the moment. But the water is there and the machinery that brings it to us will be repaired (keeping fingers firmly crossed) and we'll be bathing, watering the animals and making ice soon.

*The well men say there are a lot of wells going dry. I couldn't imagine. What would we do with all the animals? I mean I can drink bottled water and shower at the YMCA, but I think they would frown on a gaggle of geese and a couple of feisty goats. Keep rainy thoughts in your hearts for us, please.

11 comments:

  1. Amen to that Maggie.
    Yesterday evening when the topic of animals/hay/rain came up so did the topic of Georgia's ban on watering.
    One of the ladies says "yeah---but we don't have to worry about THAT since up here our water comes from Tennessee---they have plenty"
    We told her not if it doesn't rain---it'll start to dry up like other spots.
    The RIVER???? she said. No WAY--besides according to her it will rain long before it's that bad. I'm not sure were she gets her info but......well, you get the point. (would you be offended if I called her an idiot here?)
    Monica

    ReplyDelete
  2. naw, she's an idiot, monica.

    I think people really, REALLY don't get that we need to be conserving aggressively NOW and if we could back-date it, that would be much, much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Glad your water situation was just a temporary one. Our dug well went bad a few years ago, but luckily it was pre-critters. The only problem is that our water depends on electricity (there's plenty of wet stuff up here). I hope you all get the rain you need, and soon.

    Monica, call it like you see it. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous2:37 AM

    I'm thinking rain dance, and I feel your pain - the summer of 2006, our well got down to only a few inches of water, and we spent most of August and September begging baths from friends and family. Not fun. Anyhoo, fingers crossed for you all.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd smuggle a goose into the Y shower with me for you ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. The water has returned, and much better than we could have hoped. And while there is plenty of water in the well, it is down about 20-30 feet, which is not a good long-term sign. The pump did not have to be replaced (thanks for that financial dodge), but the tank (where water is stored under the house) had to be. It's much less a surprise to the pocket book.

    We've been in water conservation mode for sometime. Our water is tied to our electricity - no electricity, no pump, so that we've even noticed a drop in that bill!

    I do feel it's time that people start to realize that water is not the everending renewable resource they assume it to be, especially ground water.

    ReplyDelete
  7. If you don't have them already, consider some rain barrels. We're not as dry as you, but they were a big help for our garden. Also, for emergencies, consider a really good water filter.

    ReplyDelete
  8. e4- we've got lots of rain barrels! They are a big help around here. You've read my mind. I'm going to post about them soon.

    I've also got the filter system down pretty well (years of living in Africa!). We haven't had to resort to that yet. We keep a stock of drinking water in case power goes out - which it does from time to time. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maggie---I could take some goats for you here...chlorinated Woodfin reservoir water is better than nothing.

    The squirrels will teach them how to eat the garden. And there is a guy around the corner with several goats, so there is a neighborhood precedent for such activity.

    Note to self: investigate rain barrel options.

    -JA

    ReplyDelete
  10. Maggie:
    reading your comments I notice you said something about "water filter" and Africa---I know a couple of good filters. Sand etc. However it sounds as if you have more experience---blog about it please :-)
    Monica

    ReplyDelete
  11. seems like water's been an issue everywhere lately

    ReplyDelete