The most famous lines from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner are these: Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink. The Mariner and his ship's crew are stuck in the ocean in a dead calm. There's no wind to move the ship, and they've run out of water. Every man is parched and delirious from thirst. Imagine being in that situation. Imagine the frustration of seeing acres upon acres of water all around you -- and yet not being able to drink a drop of it. Fiction or Reality? While Coleridge's poetic vision may seem far-fetched in today's world, it could be closer to reality than you may think. Look no further than the aftermath of the earthquakes that struck the seaside city of Christchurch, New Zealand. Public water treatment systems were destroyed. Fresh clean drinking water was extremely difficult to get. For some perspective, consider this: The second major earthquake to hit Christchurch in six months happened on February 22, 2011. Water supply was restored to about 70% of households within 7 days. But one resident reported that her water was finally restored "just before April Fool's Day." This means she and her family were without running water for more than 5 weeks -- about 35 days. And although her water is finally working again, she says they must use it sparingly because the water system is still very fragile. High water demand or even a small aftershock could easily shut down the water mains again. How did the citizens get clean drinking water immediately after the quake? Most were dependent on whatever the government and aid workers could supply. Dairy tankers normally used to haul milk were used to haul clean water instead. And because the water treatment systems were shut down, more than 7,000 portable toilets were brought in and orders placed for 20,000 more. And yet in spite of the herculean efforts to supply the citizens with water and fix the water supply and sewage systems, people still went without running water for weeks. In fact, raw sewage made its way into the ocean, polluting the waters, and sending nearly all the surfers and beach-goers packing. While the situation in New Zealand may seem far away and remote, we actually don't have to look overseas to find examples of severe shortages of clean drinking water. Take Iowa, for example. 500-Year Flood Hits the Midwest In 2008, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, experienced a 500-year flood. On June 13, the Cedar River crested at 31.3 feet above flood stage. Roughly 5,900 homes were flooded and 10,000 residents were displaced. All but one of the city's 48 alluvial-aquifer wells were flooded with polluted river water. Only through a massive sandbagging effort was the last well kept pumping. Water usage restrictions were imposed. Bathing and laundry were banned for five days. Meanwhile, the waste water plant was closed and sealed. The entire city was without sewer service. Flushing the toilet sent raw waste into the Cedar River or out into the streets. The waste water plant was out of service for a total of 73 days. When service was finally restored, it was only at partial capacity. Think about it... How different is Coleridge's poetic vision from the dire flood situation the citizens of Iowa experienced? With flood waters at record levels, there was water everywhere -- but none of it was fit to drink. Many thirsty and stranded people were at the mercy of the government, which is a position you never want to be in. Do You Have a Clean Water Back-up Plan? As major floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes become more frequent and more destructive, it's critical to have a clean water back-up plan. How will you get clean drinking water if a major natural disaster knocks out the water mains? You can live for weeks without food. But go just 2-3 days without water and you will be at risk of dying from dehydration. Even one day without water can severely impair your body's ability to function. Getting clean water even a few hours sooner could make a huge difference in your ability to survive. Of course, you can store water in bottles or containers inside your home. And this is a good precaution to take. But water is heavy and difficult to transport. If you are forced to evacuate or leave your home, your stored water won't do you much good. Furthermore, stored water is often consumed much faster than you expect. The average adult needs to drink about 2 liters of water a day to stay properly hydrated. With two adults and two kids in a household, you could easily go through 6-7 liters of drinking water... per day. This is one reason why you should have a high-quality portable water filter. Such a filter will provide you with clean drinking water even in the most dire of circumstances. |
| Off The Grid News May 2011 Here are some things you might be interested in: (And don't forget yard sales!!!!) |
A collection of articles, newsletters, and websites put together by Sister Dale Picard for the Miami Lakes FL Stake 
Friday, May 20, 2011
Water
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