W3: A Day Without Water

Date:Saturday,July5,2025

Location: Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia

    This morning started just like any other lazy Saturday. I had planned to finally enjoy a free weekend, go out, and maybe explore a new café. I stretched, yawned, and went straight to the bathroom to freshen up, but when I turned on the tap. I was shocked because there’s not a single drop of water coming out. I stared in confusion for a second, then quickly grabbed my phone to see what was going on.

    That’s when I saw it “Kuala Lumpur to face one-day water cut due to extreme heat and prolonged drought.” I was shocked. I'm living alone in Kuala Lumpur for my studies. I rarely read the news because I was used to having my parents, especially my mom, handle these kinds of things back home. I had no idea this was coming and this the first time I'm facing this situation alone, I hadn’t stored even a single bucket of water.

    My perfect Saturday was ruined.

    At first, I felt annoyed. How could I brush my teeth? Wash my face? Take a shower? The heat made everything worse. It was uncomfortable, and I started to feel sticky and sweaty. I tried to stay calm and used a small bottle of mineral water I had in the fridge to wash up a little. Just enough to not feel completely gross. But even then, I knew I had to save some for drinking later.

    Then I realized that I couldn't even flush the toilet. That’s when panic started to kick in. I never imagined how essential clean water is until it was gone. I kept thinking what if this goes on for more than a day or what if water never comes back again.

    Next came the food problem. I thought of cooking some noodles, but I didn’t know how to cook without water. There was no water to boil, no way to wash vegetables, and no way to clean my utensils. Going out wasn’t an option either because some of the restaurants were closed, and even if they were open, their hygiene without clean water couldn’t be trusted. I ended up eating some biscuits and some bread. It wasn’t enough, and it wasn’t satisfying, but I had no choice.

    I started thinking about how this situation was affecting others. Hospitals were facing serious difficulties treating patients and maintaining hygiene without water. Farmers in nearby areas were likely watching their crops die due to the ongoing drought. Schools were probably forced to cancel classes because there was no water for students to drink or for maintaining basic cleanliness. Everything was connected, and I had never realized how deeply our daily lives depend on one essential resource which is clean and accessible water.

    Later that evening, it started to rain, a light but steady shower that felt like a small blessing. I saw people in my apartment building trying creative ways to cope. Some were rushing out with buckets and containers to collect the rainwater, hoping to use it for flushing or cleaning. Others were sharing bottled water with neighbors who didn’t have any. It was heartwarming to see the community come together, but at the same time, it was frightening that the situation had reached that point.

    This experience made me realize that this could be a small warning of what the future might look like if we continue wasting water and ignoring climate change. The current water cut might be temporary, but it showed just how quickly things can fall apart and how easily a temporary problem could become a permanent one.

    Now only I realized how much clean water I’ve taken for granted. I never thought twice about turning on a tap, taking long showers, or letting the water run while brushing my teeth. But after just one day without water, everything fell apart. All the plans, my comfort, even my sense of safety.

    Now, I understand that water is not something endless. It’s a resource we must protect, conserve, and use wisely. I hope this day becomes a reminder for me and for others to appreciate what we have, and to never take clean water for granted again.