Leak

Steps to Fix a Leak in Maasailand:

1. Notice the leak. A trail of water and puddles across the floor is a good indication that something is wrong.
2. Put a bucket under the leak. If the water is coming, you might as well use it for something!
3. Diagnose where the leak is. This may take awhile, but move your hand up the pipe in question until water doesn’t run down your arm.
4. Tie a rag around pipe to draw water down the rag, directly into your bucket.
5. Find other buckets to dump water into.
6. Close all valves to the sink and your roof-top watertank.
7. Stand in amazement as water continues to leak even though no water can conceivably be coming to the pipe.
8. Yell at the water.
9. Use a clothespin to hold the rag in place, you are going to be in this for the long haul.
10. Start boiling water like it’s your job. You need to put the leaked water to use!
11. Wait until water stops. This may take multiple days.
12. Try sealing leak with local “Maasai techniques”-gum and glue. Realize that Maasai don’t generally have indoor plumbing.
13. Once water is completely finished leaking, remove the pipe using whatever means available.
14. Hook up a glue gun and try covering the entire leak with glue.
15. Re-attach pipe, wait for glue to dry, and give yourself a hearty pat on the back.
16. Turn on water to tank and to the leak.
17. Notice the leak, still going un-diminished through your glob of glue.
18. Yell at the glue
19. Write a blog about your experience.

Happy plumbing!