Finally, after 6 days of not being able to use our water, they are lifting the "do not use" order gradually. They still haven't gotten very far. Today around here, everyone's conversation includes, "are you in the red or the blue?" (They decided to do red and blue instead of red and green because of possible color blindness issues.) The water company has a map on their website where you can put in your address and find out if you are in the red or blue area. It is only a small percentage blue at this point. Mostly red.

We finally made it to blue today and are flushing but there is still an odor to the water and it is yellowish. I have drained the hot water tank and have been opening up the other lines as well for several minutes at a time. Then, waiting awhile and doing it some more. Have to throw out the first few batches of ice from the ice maker and change filters, etc. One large area of the city made it to the "blue" and then a few minutes later, a quick "stop" was called and they were changed back to red. Not sure what happened with that but 4 hours later, they are blue again. (Can you imagine the amount of water hitting the water treatment and sanitation plant today?)

I am going to run the dishwasher later. It has dishes in it that have been there for days. I am not going to unload it first but will run it as is and then run it through a second time. I am not yet going to use water to cook with nor am I going to do any laundry today. I do not want to risk the odor getting into the clothes. I'll wait another day and hopefully it will be gone. (Have to run it through first empty to clear those lines before doing a load with clothes.) I *might* take a real shower in the morning. Maybe. I know of two people who made it to the blue zone last night and who showered this morning and said they were really itchy afterwards. So, we'll see about the shower. Either way, I will still use bottled water for washing my face and brushing teeth for awhile.

But ...... it is probably going to be awhile before I am willing to drink the water. They say it is safe, but I am not ready to chance it, especially with the yellowish tinge and the odor.

They have a ways to go to get everybody into the "blue." School was canceled again today. (We also missed last Friday due to this.) And, again tomorrow, no school. Due to the water contamination issue and also the extreme cold (5 below zero) at the beginning of last week, we have only had 1-1/2 days of school in 2014 so far.

You know, everybody always just turns on the faucet to get a drink, brush your teeth, take a shower, etc., and none of us even give it a second thought. We all just take so many things for granted. I think it is going to be a long time til I don't hesitate every time my hand touches that faucet handle.