Some Ways to Conserve Your Water Resources
By Patty Liston
In previous preparedness articles, I have discussed the necessity of having and storing water in case of emergency. One gallon of water, per person, per day, times 3 months, is a lot of water to store. However, having it is crucial to your survival. Learning ways to conserve what you have painstakingly collected and stored, will enable you to keep your water for a longer period of time.
The following are some ideas to consider. Some of them may be familiar to you, others may be new. Taking a moment to think about these suggestions may help to further prepare you and your families should a water emergency arise.
Use throw-away paper plates, bowls and cups. This will save water you would use for washing.
Use throw-away plastic utensils.
Have a good supply of trash bags for the above.
Use vinyl gloves to prepare meals so you won't have to wash your hands as often. We should have a stock of these "doctor" gloves handy to use for a variety of sanitary reasons. You can purchase boxes of 100 gloves or more at super stores and bulk warehouse stores.
Use heavy rubber gloves for dirty jobs.
Use a Hand Sanitizer if your hands aren't dirty/grimy, greasy.
Use a small battery operated electric razor to shave with. Braun makes one that runs on AA batteries for about $15.00.
In the bathroom, use two stainless steel bowls for washing hands. One bowl with a disinfectant added to the water and one bowl with clear rinse water. Add disinfectant to the clear bowl each morning; use yesterday's disinfected water to pour into your drains to keep the "P" traps full and functional. Put clean water in that bowl for rinsing and switch every day.
Use throwaway paper towels. Cloth towels accumulate too many germs and have to be laundered.
Stock up on "rubbing" isopropyl alcohol to clean under arms and other sensitive areas.
When it comes to personal hygiene, you will probably be taking sponge baths. You may also consider purchasing the large "bath" wipes that can be found at any grocery or super-store. One of these wipes would take care of your body.
To conserve water, use a wringer to squeeze out all the water you can from your clothes after washing, and again after rinsing. Or, if you can't find an inexpensive wringer, wring your clothes out by hand.
Wash all of your blankets, sleeping bags, tennis shoes, coats, jackets etc. right now while we have plenty of water and electricity.
Wear airy sandals or just socks around the house so your feet don't sweat.
A capful of mouthwash will rinse the toothpaste out of your mouth after brushing your teeth.
Roll out about three feet of butcher paper on the table or counter when you are preparing meals. This will provide a clean working surface. Turn it over the next day and use the other side. When both sides are soiled, roll up and dispose of the paper, thus eliminating the need to use water to clean-up.
Each day, spray surfaces with a disinfectant that are handled often such as door knobs, banisters and other common surfaces. This will cut down on the transmission of germs that may cause illness.
Give a new paper cup to each individual each morning and have them print their name on it for their exclusive use during that day. If cups are heavy-duty, they could be used for several days.
Use a 3 or 5 gallon water container with a push-button spout for drinking water. This will keep your water supply clean and will help people conserve water.
Use a pressure cooker. Your foods will cook faster and use a lot less water and fuel.
Have close fitting lids for your pots and pans to conserve water while cooking.
If you are storing snack foods, stay away from very salty ones. Salt equals thirst, equals drinking more water.
Canned goods packed in water or their own juice, will help you conserve water.
Plan on storing extra water for cooking rice, beans, pasta, soup mixes and any dehydrated foods you may have in storage. This would be over-and-above the 1 gallon per-person, per day.
