Israeli Plumbing and Other Interesting Things

As someone who has spent a great deal of his life in and around construction I can’t help notice things that to others might not be all that interesting. Plumbing for example helps to determine the date of construction from the ultra utilitarian period (UUP) to the modern utilitarian period (MUP). A good example of the UUP era is the public restrooms in the Arab Bizarre in Jerusalem. Privacy being of utmost importance for what one must do here these restrooms have a door and a lock, a hole in the floor and a bucket but unfortunately no toilet paper. It is not clear how all of this is supposed to work together but it is advisable to use for emergency purposes only.

Perhaps the MUP era is best represented by the pervasive use of photovoltaic water heaters. Mounted on the roof the water tower is situated next to a solar panel. Depending upon the size of your tank and the age and or cleanliness of the solar panel will determine how many minutes of hot water you will get.

While toilets have evolved from one flush only, to little flush and big flush (this seems to be European influenced) the shower is somewhat more primitively entrenched in the UUP period. Tile and mosaic floors are sloped to a single drain in the restroom which are pragmatically maintained with a squeegee or floor mop provided. Controls for the shower may vary from hand held heads (also European influenced) to three and sometimes four controls for pressure, hot, cold and a fourth knob for no known or anticipated reason.

It should be noted that while traveling beware of some rooming houses that offer “full kitchens.” In one which will remain nameless the full kitchen included one knife, one spoon, one plate and an ashtray. Most do include however a mini fridge, hot water maker, sink and an interesting instant Turkish coffee packet (most of it sinks to the bottom intentionally) along with plenty of sugar.

Locals are the first to say that simple everyday things that we take for granted in the US are more difficult here. Finding good cuts of fresh meat, poultry or fish is limited. The same is true for fruits and vegetables. On the other hand fresh baked bread is plentiful and goat and sheep (but not cow) cheese and yogurts is offered in many varieties. Packaged products are also limited and depending on what you are looking for you might not be able to get it right away or in some cases never again.

Underlining life in Israel is a tough pragmatic approach to living. People work hard here to maintain day to day existence. From the early settlers, later immigrants and Holocaust survivors comes a sense of what is important, perhaps basic but always practical.

Rooftop water heater

Shower and toilet with mop