Our province has been suffering from a three-year-long drought. The fresh water spring, one of the main attractions in our tourist city, has been bone-dry for six months. Many locals are concerned that the glacier on our snow-covered mountain will completely melt away. Luckily for us, we've personally experienced only occasional inconveniences with water shortages.
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| The dry basin of Black Dragon Pool. |
Not so for the capital city of our province, Kunming. With its ever-growing population, people there have perhaps suffered the most. The city has been rationing water to its residents for more than a year, with running water occasionally being only available to certain communities one hour per day! University students there must swipe a pre-paid card to flush toilets and wash their hands in their dorms' restrooms. Though friends living in that city have told us that the rationing is necessary and teaching people to use water responsibly should be a global endeavor, everyone has been hoping for rain.
Summer is rainy season, and the weather this week seems to be trying to make up for lost time. A four day deluge has made many farmers in our valley happy, but wreaked havoc elsewhere. James and I were forced to canceled this weekend's trip to the village because rock and mud slides have damaged the road. And suddenly, Kunming has more water than they know what to do with.
Check out the article and more photos of the flooding on
GoKunming.
As I write, runoff is thundering down on our porch awning and pooling several inches deep above the balcony drain. James and I are thankful to be inside, dry and safe. Please think of those who aren't fortunate enough to share our circumstances!
