A leaky nightmare

We just got a brand new faucet for our kitchen sink. It is shiny, fancy and has a price tag to match. We had our old one removed, the new one installed and awaited the flow of water with happy, eager faces.

Alas, it was not to be.

When we turned on our brand new, shiny faucet, all we got a was a minuscule, hesitant drip. Our handyman of the day turned himself into a pretzel and worked on the thing for hours managing to encourage a quivering stream out of the faucet. To say the water flow was hesitant isn’t an understatement and, of course, as soon as the handyman left the house, the water stopped flowing completely.

Hoping for some help, we called the makers of the faucet. They blamed the lack of water on microscopic sediments on the water supply and reassured us the solution was easy. When we asked if we should call a plumber, they told us there was no need. It was a matter of cleaning up a filter or two. So simple, a child could do it, they claimed. They would talk us through the entire process.

Innocently unprepared for the nightmare that is working with valves, faucets and turning parts, we peered under the sink, stared at the dark tubes, pipes and knobs. My hubby and I glanced at each other uncertainly. This was like an alien landscape. Nothing looked familiar or like the friendly picture on the assembly handout.

Cheered on by the ever positive representative on the phone, we started moving knobs around. Almost immediately, water appeared. It started in one tab but quickly spread until it was coming from just a bout every pipe, knob or valve. I ran for towels while my hubby tried to close valves.

When I returned, I was faced with a scene from Fantasia. There was water everywhere and it just kept coming. The only thing in the kitchen that wasn’t leaking was our brand new faucet. That thing was as dry as a bone.

Now, many sore muscles later, we have a dry kitchen and a new faucet. Neither have water in it or the possibility of giving us any water. We have turned it off.

We also have an appointment with a plumber.

Where we have no water

I might have mentioned that we live out in the country. That means no municipal water access. Instead, we get our water from a well.

Ours has run out of water.

The first thing that happens when you realize you have no water is you need to pee. It’s almost instant. No water, must go to the bathroom. But, of course, you can’t flush. And you can’t wash your hands!

The next thing we did was to call a plumber and wait, hoping that by luck, whatever had dried our well, would fill it up.

No such luck.

When a well doesn’t work, people tend to panic and we were no exception. We called every person we would find that had something remotely to do with water or wells or homes or dogs or humanity…And everyone had advice that was both confusing and, at times, contradictory.

Our plumber (who didn’t look a day over 18) told us to drill a new one. Our neighbours (who have lived in the area for over 20 years) told us to sit and wait. The city officer we got on the phone told us (after many calls and messages) to not bother him because he had nothing to do with wells.

So, while we sit here in our own filth, do you want to check out an awesome blog? While I avoid the heavy topics in my little blog, this one deals with them head on. And while most people beat around the bush, this blog gives it to you straight. Check out Just Gene’O and let me know what you think!