It rained all day yesterday. Torrential downpours ruined my tennis plans, but that’s okay.
Bermudians acquire a very personal appreciation for rain. In spite of being surrounded by sea water, Bermuda does not have a natural source of drinking water. There is a desalination plant that strips the ocean’s bounty of salt – in case of a drought. But by in large Bermudians collect their own rainwater for drinking and bathing.
A Bermudian roof collects the rain in a large gutter, which funnels it down various pipes at the corners of the house. The rain then travels down the interiors of the stone walls to an underground water tank. Apparently, Bermudians used to put algae-eating fish in the tank to keep it clean, but Paul assures me we utilize more modern methods. I’m not sure what those are and when I asked Paul for more information – I got the feeling that “ignorance is bliss.” (Imagine me covering my ears, saying “La-la-la-la-la-la!”) I guess we clean it once in a while – but not too often.
Moving on – the children are enrolled in a country-wide fluoride distribution program. Parents sign a release form for the schools to give out fluoride tablets to Bermuda’s children.
The tiered construction is not for rain collection, but rather for withstanding hurricanes. Don’t ask me to explain the physics. I write what I’m told.
Here are some pictures:
