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- - I have no water service and I need to... (http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=414262)

Carver | 10-09-2009 01:37 AM
I have no water service and I need to... ...without getting too graphic, use the water. I woke up from a nap at about 8pm, I did some cleaning, and then I go to wash my hands and I find that there is no water service in my apartment community. I literally had to go to a McDonald's (of all places) to wash my hands. There was a note from the city indicating that our water would be off from 5pm - 11pm. Well, it's 12:30 here and the water is still off. I have cans of tunafish and bottled drinking water, but I have no real way of dealing with this (e.g., operating the toilet). Is this where we are supposed to take catchment water and use that to refill the toilet tank? Do most of you folks plan to keep using your toilets during a SHTF off-the-grid situation? Thanks. :36_3_12: PS: I guess it's a wake-up call that something like this forces me to rethink what I would do without utilities. There is a body of water near me. I suppose I could always hike down there with buckets and bring back some "utility water."

G10 | 10-09-2009 02:28 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Quote:
Originally Posted by Carver (Post 1963105) PS: I guess it's a wake-up call that something like this forces me to rethink what I would do without utilities. There is a body of water near me. I suppose I could always hike down there with buckets and bring back some "utility water."
For the situation you're in at the moment it sounds like the best option... :biggrin: or You could always grab some TP and find some woods.... :biggrin: When the SHTF your best bet would be a life in the boonies somewhere; you'll be able to dig a nice deep hole...

Twisted Avatar | 10-09-2009 07:04 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Make it a habbit to have a few 3 liter bottels filled with water store them in a cool dark place. Rotate about every 60-90 days so the plastic dosent leech into the water. Make sure you keep sanitary wipes (toilettes) some where around for handwashing or hygenie. Have a big berkey stashed in the closet in case you have filter water from nearby sources. Take the lessons from this "dry run" and plan accordingly. The long emergency is coming. T

Tn...Andy | 10-09-2009 07:07 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Quote:
Originally Posted by Carver (Post 1963105) Do most of you folks plan to keep using your toilets during a SHTF off-the-grid situation?
I do....along with the shower, kitchen sink, washing machine and so on.....because we have a gravity fed spring that we've operated off of for the last 25 years. Depending on others to supply you with the basic necessities of life works fine right up until it doesn't.

brosil | 10-09-2009 07:55 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... " Depending on others to supply you with the basic necessities of life works fine right up until it doesn't." Tn...Andy,Can I have that for a sig Line?:36_1_32v:

Brio | 10-09-2009 07:56 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Why would they turn off the water? You could fill the tub (I mean shower and then fill the tub) each day before it's turned off.

MorganTheGoat | 10-09-2009 07:58 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... I have about 20 gallons of water stored for such occasions.

Publico, Pro Se | 10-09-2009 08:01 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... The old man lived without water service for 13 years. What do you want to know?

glockngold | 10-09-2009 08:11 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Interesting that this small inconvenience even causes a ripple to an established GIMer. Paper towels & windex would of washed your hands. The 5 gal bucket with tight fitting lid takes care of the other problem.

Twisted Avatar | 10-09-2009 08:13 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Quote:
Originally Posted by Brio (Post 1963347) Why would they turn off the water? You could fill the tub (I mean shower and then fill the tub) each day before it's turned off.
Tearing up old pipes, sewer lines and laying down that corregated stuff thats suppose to last 6 million years. T

Brio | 10-09-2009 08:45 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Okay thanks TA that makes sense. What Tn Andy said too Quote:
Depending on others to supply you with the basic necessities of life works fine right up until it doesn't.
I grew up without plumbing or hydro or tv, it's always been second nature to me to not rely on someone else for survival. But I know how hard that is to do in a city/apartment.

TechGuy | 10-09-2009 09:05 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... I have several hundred gallons of water stored, along with what is in 2 60 gallon water heaters, and the well tank. Add to that approx 30 gals of bottled drinking water. That is JUST to get me through until the gen set is hooked up. We are on aerobic septic, so we can flush as long as the power is on :( We have a porta potti and enough storage barrels for several months of use.

Twisted Avatar | 10-09-2009 09:08 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Quote:
Originally Posted by TechGuy (Post 1963466) I have several hundred gallons of water stored, along with what is in 2 60 gallon water heaters, and the well tank. Add to that approx 30 gals of bottled drinking water. That is JUST to get me through until the gen set is hooked up. We are on aerobic septic, so we can flush as long as the power is on :( We have a porta potti and enough storage barrels for several months of use.
Any brand has a good reputation??? T

Keef | 10-09-2009 09:26 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... There are some guys living under Vegas that don't have running water (unless it floods, then they have plenty). I'm sure they find a way to pinch a loaf, wash their hands, maybe even a bath, so it can be done. If you continue to use the toilet better plan on having at least 10 gallons on hand to get it to flush manually. You don't have to live near a fresh spring like Andy, The minimum survival prep are plastic five gallon buckets. Not everyone is a survival genius, nor do we want to be. No need to worship the ones who are. No need to have a big head if you have some bags to keep ur poop. No need to worry if you don't. Man does not live by bread alone, you have a brain, use it. I have lived in old shacks, lived in nice homes, you can adapt to anything by using common sense. Prepping just makes it easier. Your water outage is just to help you become more independent. It will come back on and you can dump all you want in that commode..

G10 | 10-09-2009 09:33 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... There is a lot of good advice on this thread. If the SHTF you�re not going to want to be in a high-density population setting; Just image magnifying the Katrina aftermath by several orders of magnitude. Living on an acreage/farm or completely in the sticks gives you more options.

Canadian-guerilla | 10-09-2009 09:34 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... you don't need " water " to get the toilet working throw some cheap pop/liquid into the toilet tank and flush

Canadian-guerilla | 10-09-2009 09:36 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Quote:
Originally Posted by Tn...Andy (Post 1963291) Depending on others to supply you with the basic necessities of life works fine right up until it doesn't.
gonna add that to my GIM quotes file :ok:

Osaka | 10-09-2009 09:44 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... There may be water available on the moon. I suggest you crash the upper stage of a rocket on the surface.

G10 | 10-09-2009 09:52 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Quote:
Originally Posted by TechGuy (Post 1963466) I have several hundred gallons of water stored, along with what is in 2 60 gallon water heaters, and the well tank. Add to that approx 30 gals of bottled drinking water. That is JUST to get me through until the gen set is hooked up. We are on aerobic septic, so we can flush as long as the power is on :( We have a porta potti and enough storage barrels for several months of use.
What do you do for heat? Geothermal or wood/coal/oil burning?

TechGuy | 10-09-2009 10:27 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Quote:
Originally Posted by G10 (Post 1963549) What do you do for heat? Geothermal or wood/coal/oil burning?
500 gal propane for now. Working to upgrade that to 1000 gal buried tank by next year. In Texas propane is the most available backup fuel source available. Hardwoods are crazy expensive.

TechGuy | 10-09-2009 10:29 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Carver: May I suggest for next time: http://beprepared.com/product.asp_Q_...%20Water%20Kit http://beprepared.com/images/250/kw-s200.jpg

Avalon | 10-09-2009 11:39 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... you need a water bob.. http://www.waterbob.com/Welcome.do;j...28ECFABDE90A8E

smullen | 10-09-2009 11:40 AM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... We have a large standup freezer int eh basement that I have the very top and bottm shelves filled with fozen 3 liters... They can be used for two things... 1. If the power is out it will extend the time till everything starts to defrost.... 2. If it comes to it the water in the bottles can be used for drinking water, washing, etc... Do you have somewhere you could go and get water??? if so, go fill up some two liters, or go to the camping store and get some of those2-5 gal water containers.... They are a clear plastic, almost like a square bag, wish a nozzel on the bottom front... How long do you expect the water to be off??? Also, you can buy Gallons and big things of bottled water from Sams and Costco to get you buy for a few days... Hope its back on soon, I've been there and I know it sucks.... If you lived within driving distance of me, I'd offer you some fills....

theberkeyguy | 10-09-2009 12:01 PM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... We would reccomend a berkey water purification system, especially for situations like this. theberkeyguy

TTAZZMAN | 10-09-2009 12:30 PM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... If you have a hot water tank it will have a spigot you can draw the water out of the bottom of it with a garden hose. if you draw the water out of the hotwater tank be sure and turn off the heating source....IE Gas or Electric ....till you refill it

Nomen luni | 10-09-2009 12:43 PM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... You know you've got one free dump and flush on the house after the water's turned off, right?

thorgrim | 10-09-2009 01:26 PM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Some observations about your situation Carver. Being in an apartment it definitely limits your options. I agree with others that the sanitary towelettes are a good option for cleaning your hands or other parts of the body if there is no running water. Obviously you need to have drinking and cooking water stored somewhere to at least tide you over for a few days. I've always thought even a few days water at least gives you time to think about your situation and come up with a proper plan rather then having to react like what happened to you. In your case it is a localized problem and you were able to go to 7-11, but what if the water was out and the streets were not safe due to riots? To flush toilets with or wash dishes a few 5 gallon pails of water could be stored somewhere and you don't have to worry about rotating it. The buckets could be used afterward like someone mentioned to go to the bathroom in and sealed. The other option is basically a composting toilet made with a 5 gallon pail and some sort of dry absorbent material like saw dust or peat moss. To shamelessly flog one of my old threads. http://goldismoney.info/forums/showthread.php?t=60772 You could probably use one bucket for 2 weeks and it doesn't stink. Obviously this is more practical if you have a yard where you can dump the contents and use it for fertilizer. This isn't applicable to Carver but I am currently living in a town house condo (i know not the best place, but it is what it is). What we discovered is the area under the basement where the sump pump is located would supply us with enough water for basic needs. It is constantly refilling with crystal clear water filtered by the soil and heavy clay. By our estimation at least 20 gallons a day. This year was incredibly dry and we still had water! If you have a house with a sump pump you might want to check it out, could be the solution you are looking for.

Kregener | 10-09-2009 01:31 PM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... If I am reading you correctly, you had a Bm and need to flush the toilet? Yes, take a 5 gallon bucket down to your water 'source' and pour it directly into the toilet, right on top of the 'BM'. It will flush.

Carver | 10-09-2009 01:31 PM
Re: I have no water service and I need to... Thanks for the comments and links, folks. The water did finally come back on. I can't wait to move into a better situation, prepping in an apartment like this is a little more awkward (though I can and will do more). Quote:
Originally Posted by Nomen luni (Post 1963860) You know you've got one free dump and flush on the house after the water's turned off, right?
Yeah, I was trying to save that flush until I absolutely needed it.

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