10/15/2026
ONE DAY WITHOUT WATER TURNED INTO FOUR MONTHS WITHOUT OUR HOME!
Yes, you read that correctly!
A few years ago, my family woke up one morning, turned on the faucet, and discovered we had no running water.
We went about our day and left for work.
Unfortunately, someone had forgotten to turn off one of the faucets.
While we were away, the water came back on. When we returned home, our entire house was flooded!
The damage was so extensive that our family spent more than FOUR MONTHS living in a hotel while our home was being repaired.
That experience taught me something I will never forget:
We often take water for granted until something goes wrong.
After that incident, we installed a Moen smart water monitoring system that detects unusual water usage and can automatically shut off our water to help prevent another disaster.
WHY AM I SHARING THIS TODAY?
October 15 is Imagine a Day Without Water, a national awareness day reminding us how essential clean, safe, and reliable water is to our lives.
For my family, this isn’t just something to imagine. We’ve lived through it!
WHAT ARE WE DOING AT FIRST FIVE YEARS & BEYOND (FFYB)?
At FFYB, we believe everyday experiences can become powerful learning opportunities for children and families.
We’re encouraging parents to use this awareness day to start conversations with their children about water conservation, safety, and responsibility.
HERE’S A SIMPLE FAMILY CHALLENGE!
Tonight, ask your children these three questions:
What would happen if we woke up tomorrow and had no water?
How can we help save water at home?
What should we do if we turn on the faucet and no water comes out?
Then challenge your children to become WATER PROTECTORS!
Have them practice turning off faucets, checking for dripping taps with an adult, and using only the water they need.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
Thank you to State Department of Health for sharing the article “Imagine a Day Without Water,” which inspired me to share my family’s experience.
We also recognize Health – Seattle & King County for its commitment to healthier families and communities.
ONE FINAL THOUGHT:
Have you ever experienced a water outage or unexpected flooding? What did you learn?
Share your experience in the comments. Your story might help another family!
&Beyond .
