When
it comes down to matters of health, one should never disregard
the importance of clean and potable water. This also is especially
important when it concerns travellers and those of us that relocate
from less temperate zones.
When
my family and I moved from our home in Central Europe to the tropical
climates of Belize, we accepted the reality that our first home
would come complete without electricity or water. We welcomed
to a degree that electricity would mean there would be no television,
something my wife and I welcomed with open arms in light of our
three years old sons recently acquired addiction to the device.
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Health Tip
It is recommended that an adult to stay properly hydrated
in the tropics should consume a minimum of 3 liters
of drinking water per day. Children should consume no
less than one liter per day. Coffee and tea cannot be
counted, as these actually dehydrate the body. As good
as an ice cold Coca Cola tastes on a hot hot day, the
sugar might help you get over your thirst for the moment,
but in the long run the best is to drink plain water!
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But
when it came down to issues of water, well I was really concerned.
In time we worked out the water problems facing us regarding washing
our clothes, our dishes and cooking utensils and ourselves. We
achieved this with a Rotoplast than allowed us in one week to
capture enough rain water to cover our needs. An additional Rotoplast
would cover our needs during the dry season.
As
for our drinking water needs, these proved to be more challenging.
For this we turned to a local company which provided bottled drinking
water collected by a company which markets "Rain Forest Drinking
Water".
It
was truly a remarkable learning experience to see just how valuable
water is. Trying to use as little as possible but still get everything
as clean as it should be is a challenge many people face around
the world. Most of us, from the 'developed' countries have gotten
so used to the constant stream pouring out of faucets, garden
hoses and into toilets, that we forget the importance of this
resource. Let’s hope during our great-grand children’s
time, all of us can enjoy that same luxury! |