The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

[Deleted User]

We  bought a gravity water filter with ceramic candles a couple of weeks ago, I did have the thought that the water might be restricted if enough whole families were in quarantine at home 24 hours a day for 2 weeks.  This one gives 7 litres of clean drinking water and the ceramic candles last for 2000 litres of filtration so we got an extra pair to be sure.  We have a fast flowing brook just across the road that comes from a spring a few miles away so would use that to fuel the filter and then boil the water after it's been filtered to make sure.


We currently only flush the loo (if it's yellow) once after overnight and once in the evening, I save all the washing up and do it in the evening in one bowl of water, I wait for a full load for the washing machine, stopped using the dishwasher, I have a bowl bath standing in the bath and wash my hair that way too, all to save water usage and hopefully keep the taps flowing.

I'm sure there will be things I didn't consider as this pandemic unfolds and progresses but I'm glad we decided to invest in what we have because if things do get 'interesting' down the line we've useful equipment to make our lives more bearable.  Have the OzPig, a Kelly Kettle and a portable woodstove, some solar lamps, candles, matches and camping gear along with good boots and wet weather gear.

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pineapple said:

Just had a recorded message and an email from my water provider.

Hello
We know these are worrying times and everybody is doing their best to look after each other. We just wanted to reassure you that we’re working round-the-clock to make sure we can keep our water services going and keep delivering our essential services to you, your neighbours, family and friends'.

I wasn't worried about water till I got that!

I'm wondering with all this washing of hands whether they're going to do the right thing and help those with a water meter. I doubt it because for example when I enquired with Yorkshire Water a few years ago, because chemo & steroids make me go to the toilet a lot their basic response was 'if it's yellow let it mellow' 

[Deleted User]

The best way to hand wash is wet your hands, turn off the tap, lather up with soap and wash for the requisite 20 seconds then rinse under the tap.

3secondmemory

It takes about 8 L of water before MIND starts to heat up, so I’m in the habit of only doing the washing up once a day and there is 8 L of water is either used for rinsing and draining my sprouts watering plants or topping up the toilet. 

Waste not want not.

I had been planning a water Collection system in the garden but the gravity water filter  sounds like a good idea. 

3secondmemory

MrsLurcherwalker said:

The best way to hand wash is wet your hands, turn off the tap, lather up with soap and wash for the requisite 20 seconds then rinse under the tap.

I can’t bear it when people leave the taps running!  If you have ever lived anywhere without mains water, you appreciate every drop! 

[Deleted User]

I have as a child when I spent a year in a remote country village pub with my aunt who ran it and they only had a well in the garden for water and when camping on holiday and when we arrived on a remote island in the Orkneys to find they had no water supply because it was contaminated with cryptosporidium.

DigForVictory

That's the sort of Memorable Family Holiday that forms bonds that last over decades. Our lad seizing over an open fire and the subsequent wound dressing trips & then the skin graft surgery & follow up trips - gave us all at least one topic of conversation and several witheringly memorable quotes.

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MrsLurcherwalker said:

The best way to hand wash is wet your hands, turn off the tap, lather up with soap and wash for the requisite 20 seconds then rinse under the tap.

I've only got one working hand. Hand washing is very difficult especially when the dystonia kicks in and causes the bad hand to claw up and the good hand to get cramp. It's taken a bit of practice but its do-able just not perfect so our lockdown is extra rigorous, especially the stuff coming through the letterbox  

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MrsLurcherwalker said:

We  bought a gravity water filter with ceramic candles a couple of weeks ago, I did have the thought that the water might be restricted if enough whole families were in quarantine at home 24 hours a day for 2 weeks.  This one gives 7 litres of clean drinking water and the ceramic candles last for 2000 litres of filtration so we got an extra pair to be sure.  We have a fast flowing brook just across the road that comes from a spring a few miles away so would use that to fuel the filter and then boil the water after it's been filtered to make sure.


We currently only flush the loo (if it's yellow) once after overnight and once in the evening, I save all the washing up and do it in the evening in one bowl of water, I wait for a full load for the washing machine, stopped using the dishwasher, I have a bowl bath standing in the bath and wash my hair that way too, all to save water usage and hopefully keep the taps flowing.

I'm sure there will be things I didn't consider as this pandemic unfolds and progresses but I'm glad we decided to invest in what we have because if things do get 'interesting' down the line we've useful equipment to make our lives more bearable.  Have the OzPig, a Kelly Kettle and a portable woodstove, some solar lamps, candles, matches and camping gear along with good boots and wet weather gear.

I bought a Kelly Kettle last year possibly on your advice Mrs LW. Yet to be tested somewhere safe in the workshop (that was going to be this week) but I do have a couple of cup soups to try, Mrs Un is digging out my enamel mug (I suspect she covets it) and I've a 35 litre gorilla tub full of twigs  from the apple tree we cut down s couple of years ago 

Si_Clist

FWIW we've evolved a satisfactory way of doing a full load of washing up from the two of us on a 1.7 litre kettleful of water, thereby minimising both water and energy cost.