Water resources are extremely strained in Chad.  A climate that already doesn’t lend itself to large annual rainfall amounts has been stretched thin with the additional refugee populations using the land as well.  Though our present home is connected to a main water line, the water only comes 1-2 times a week for a period of anywhere from 4-8 hours.  Because of this, we must check the taps from time to time to see if the water is on.  Because the water pressure is low, the tap near the ground in our bathroom is one of the only places, where we can get water flow (I know…the positioning next to the drop toilet is not the most sanitary place).

When it is on, we set to work to fill up our barrels, so that we will have enough water for drinking and cleaning our dishes, clothes, and bodies.  During the first week here, we had sunk to 1/2 a barrel left of water :)  Yesterday the water came on, so I spent about 3 hours of the morning filling a bucket with water from the ground level tap, transporting it to the barrels, and repeating those steps.

Well, Sonja and I are set to leave in about 2 hours.  Please remember the kids as we are away!