Heavy Rain in Japan: Can You Take a Bath or Do Laundry?
It has been raining heavily for days, and the whole house feels damp. I was thinking about taking a bath just to feel comfortable again when a question suddenly crossed my mind: with this much rain falling outside, is it okay to use water at home as usual? Can I take a bath and drain the tub afterward? Should I run the washing machine? What about the toilet and kitchen sink? The answer is not simply “stop using water.” During very heavy rain, some local governments in Japan ask residents to temporarily reduce household wastewater. This can mean waiting before draining a full bathtub, postponing laundry, or simply using a little less water until the heaviest rain has passed. Before changing your whole routine, check your toilet and drains. If they are making unusual gurgling sounds, draining slowly, or showing signs of backflow, avoid sending large amounts of water down the drains until conditions improve. Even if everything seems normal, it is worth checking whether your city or ward h...