Daily Usage

by Erik Kelly, Solwezi, Zambia

I have two 20-liter containers that I use for water. Every morning I fill one of the containers with water (sometimes one of the neighbors' kids will fill it for me). I let this water sit for 24 hours before using it, to cut down on some of the contamination. I then run my drinking water through a filter. I use water to wash dishes and clothes, and use any leftover water for my garden. Every other day I bathe with a solar shower.

We use water for gardening, washing and bathing, and making beer and bricks. Cows, goats, pigs, ducks, and chickens also need to drink the local water.

by Megan Mann, Mapulanga, Zambia

In my house I have two 22-liter containers. I use 11 liters for cooking and drinking, and another 11 liters for washing dishes and bathing.

The villagers do about the same, however, they don't bathe everyday and they usually own only one 22-liter container.

In the United States, I never thought about water. When I return home to the U.S., the first thing I want to do is turn on the faucet and have a drink of water from it. Boiling your water and then filtering it is such a long process! To think that we have clean, drinkable water inside our homes—what a luxury! I never realized how much I had!