Water – a basic human need

I READ with keen interest every week the happenings in North Cyprus. I am shocked with racist comments. I am worried about drink-driving. I am concerned with the continuing rise of energy prices.

All these matters and others have a direct impact on our everyday lives in such a beautiful part of the world. All human beings want better lives for themselves and for their children, which is entirely natural.

My desire is relatively simple, I think. I would like access to mains water. Without boring the reader with senseless rantings about builders who leave their clients in a quandary, my builder promised me (on his son’s life) water and electricity if I paid him in full for a grey villa shell. Subsequently I had to pay another builder to complete the villa. Hence, I have paid twice — not an unusual occurrence with builders all over the world.

I paid my initial builder his money for a completed villa, because I have not lost the human trait of trust. Yes, you guessed it: I was wrong to do so.

I have managed, thanks to one of my neighbours, to gain Kıb-Tek power. However, I have to pay every week or so to have my water delivered by tanker. This is not only more expensive but I usually pay for eight tonnes of water from a 12-tonne tanker because I have nowhere to store the extra water.

In the technological age of smartphones, apps for all, wouldn’t you think that I could have a mains water supply?

I have only been trying for six years and I have seen every government department possible but no-one can cut through the indeterminable forest of red tape that keeps me from the basic human need of water.

So next time you all turn on your taps and mains water issues forth, be thankful for that basic human need.

Mr Randle, Alsancak Editor’s note: Alsancak Municipality Water Department head Necat Özmertaş said all houses in the area were being connected to the mains water unless a problem was detected. He said if the letter writer contacted him his team would visit the house and conduct checks and measurements to see if a connection was possible.