Weeding rice in Hokkaido
had been carefully tended by
hand to get it started. More trees
were added while we were there,
watered by drip irrigation from
plastic pop bottles that obviously
had to be refilled frequently.
Nouakchott’s annual average
rainfall is fourteen centimetres
(5.5 inches), although we didn’t
see that much in our year there.
Our Phnom Penh apartment
had four water taps and two
flush toilets. Our drinking water
(and tooth brushing water) came
in twenty-litre jugs. Fruits and
vegetables were peeled or washed
in a hydrogen peroxide solution.
Cambodia dramatically
swings from dry season to
monsoon season, resulting in
either too little or too much
water. Irrigation continues to be
developed to produce rice and
vegetables, while most tropical
fruits abound with abandon in
due season. Phnom Penh gets
1,407 millimetres (55.4 inches) of
rainfall per year.
Each of these year-long
experiences out of the normal
led me to believe
change our relatio
water on our retu
habits die hard. A
happily returned
washing machine
capacity than our
needed), hot wate
several flush toile
So easy to adjust
After our desert e
was sure we’d be
with water back i
but it didn’t take
to old habits — ri
relaxing in the sh
out cooking water
filtered water in C
only one disastro
unfiltered water),
easy transition to
of cold Edmonton
rinse fruits and ve
running water.
True, I don’t let
when I brush my
save the pail of co
it takes to get hot
upstairs shower. B
myself draining th