Imagine if I told you that your house only received water two days a week and you had to collect the water while making it last. Would you be more careful with how long you took a shower or leave the faucet running while you wash the dishes? In the schools here in Peru, I teach “cada gota cuenta,” which means every drop counts. We do not take water for granted here. The climate on the coast is very dry, and there is not unlimited access to water. Most families have storage tanks or bins where they collect water, and they have to be resource with how they utilize it over time.
In my town, there are many small “annexos,” which are small communities, with anywhere from 20 to 100 families, usually surrounded by farms and more rural conditions. Many of the households are in charge of their own access to water and their water systems. I learned that the community was in need of support and training to help manage their water systems.
I want you to think... In one day, what do you use water for? Some examples would be brushing your teeth, drinking, washing fruits, cooking, washing dishes, washing our hands, flushing the toilet, bathing, washing your clothes, giving your pets a bath, mopping the floor, watering plants, and many more daily tasks.
