watershed

we experienced one of the coldest and snowiest couple of weeks in over 20 years. the infrastructure in ireland is not really built to support cold weather and so many of the pipes were freezing. schools closed intermittently throughout december and eventually a week ahead of schedule for the christmas holiday. water consumption was being rationed between 7pm and 7am because people had been leaving their taps on all night so their pipes wouldn't freeze. there was no salt to clear the streets, no winter tires in sight, and so we were pretty much tied to the house. it's a good thing that santa brought the kids new toys to play.

two days ago, the weather climbed to 8oC overnight, melting the snow and causing additional pressure on the water pipes throughout the city. as thaw set in, many pipes burst as the ground shifted and much water was lost. water supplies are proving to be a critical problem in dublin. demand was outstripping supply by 15% and so water pressure has also been reduced. in our area, the situation is pretty critical and as a result, we have been without water for over 24 hours. it has not been a great experience. while the water is back on, the pressure isn't strong enough to fill our water tank in the attic -- which enables us to use the shower and bathrooms upstairs. let's hope things resolve themselves soon!