This morning I had my first 2 min shower- don't worry- I'm still squeaky clean as I was physically IN the shower for 12 mins. But because water on St. Croix water is GOLD I turned it off unless I was rinsing. Today I spoke with Jennifer about water as we drove around the island running errands. I learned a few interesting things:
Cisterns:
These are large water storage tanks that collect and store rainwater. Usually kept under people's houses, Crucians are legally mandated to incorporate these into their homes. Jennifer and Lionel have several really large ones, and so despite the number of guests who shower there they are still able to gather enough water.
Wells:
This is rare on the island, although some people do get their water this way. It is costly to sink a well and to maintain it, so most people to not use them.
Desalinization Plant:
On the island there is a factory that removes the salt from ocean water. I don't understand this process very much and would like to study it more later on. Although many individual houses have cisterns, the housing projects on the islands often are supplied water from the plant. If someone wanted to have their water supplied instead of collecting it they would have to pay for the pipe infrastructure to get the water from the pant to the house. In the event that your well or cistern goes dry you can also purchase water by the truckload.
Bottled Water:
Unfortunately this is a reality for the island. Potable water is largely bottled water, although I believe the water from the desalinization plant is potable and I'm sure there are people on the island with sophisticated filtering systems who drink the rainwater. The issue with bottled water is the energy spent to ship this heavy product, and the waste associated with the bottles themselves and their packaging. What makes the St. Croix water bottle story even more devastating is that there is NO RECYCLING program on the island, although throughout the years people have tried to get one off the ground.
So the story of water on St. Croix is a very different one than my hometown. NYC is famed for having the best tap water, and when I've visited my Grandma in Florida I always appreciated it. Now that I am in an area where water is SO precious- drinking or otherwise, I have a real appreciation for my city, and respect for Crucians who've been working to conserve water for a long long time now.
Cisterns:
These are large water storage tanks that collect and store rainwater. Usually kept under people's houses, Crucians are legally mandated to incorporate these into their homes. Jennifer and Lionel have several really large ones, and so despite the number of guests who shower there they are still able to gather enough water.
Wells:
This is rare on the island, although some people do get their water this way. It is costly to sink a well and to maintain it, so most people to not use them.
Desalinization Plant:
On the island there is a factory that removes the salt from ocean water. I don't understand this process very much and would like to study it more later on. Although many individual houses have cisterns, the housing projects on the islands often are supplied water from the plant. If someone wanted to have their water supplied instead of collecting it they would have to pay for the pipe infrastructure to get the water from the pant to the house. In the event that your well or cistern goes dry you can also purchase water by the truckload.
Bottled Water:
Unfortunately this is a reality for the island. Potable water is largely bottled water, although I believe the water from the desalinization plant is potable and I'm sure there are people on the island with sophisticated filtering systems who drink the rainwater. The issue with bottled water is the energy spent to ship this heavy product, and the waste associated with the bottles themselves and their packaging. What makes the St. Croix water bottle story even more devastating is that there is NO RECYCLING program on the island, although throughout the years people have tried to get one off the ground.
So the story of water on St. Croix is a very different one than my hometown. NYC is famed for having the best tap water, and when I've visited my Grandma in Florida I always appreciated it. Now that I am in an area where water is SO precious- drinking or otherwise, I have a real appreciation for my city, and respect for Crucians who've been working to conserve water for a long long time now.
I can't say I've done nearly as much travelling as you have, but there were moments when I was in London that I felt so appreciative of NYC and somehow that made my visit that much better.
ReplyDeleteSeems like you're learning a lot and having a fantabulous time! I can't wait to hear more stories when you return :)
-judea.