How much water? I think I have a clue.

[KnightoftheRoc]

How would you go about making swimming pool water potable? Would the pool chemicals affect the potability of the water? I have an above ground pool that has almost 10,000 gallons in it.

Most of the pool chemicals commonly used don't "run out", they evaporate, like your chlorine does. Boiling the water should do the trick, but it depends on what you use in your pool. Not everything evaporates, but a simple taste should tell you if there's a problem with the water, without it causing one in YOU.

Read the ingredients in your chemicals. See if there's a safer for humans choice if one of them gives you cause for concern. And, read this thread here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=61354&hilit=+pool+source Lots of good info in it, on this very topic.

[cap6888]

Most of the pool chemicals commonly used don't "run out", they evaporate, like your chlorine does. Boiling the water should do the trick, but it depends on what you use in your pool. Not everything evaporates, but a simple taste should tell you if there's a problem with the water, without it causing one in YOU.

Read the ingredients in your chemicals. See if there's a safer for humans choice if one of them gives you cause for concern. And, read this thread here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=61354&hilit=+pool+source Lots of good info in it, on this very topic.

I use a biguanide pool chemical instead of chlorine. Not sure how that compares to chlorine. Thanks for the link.

[Siggy01]

I currently stay in an apartment with the mrs. and don't have a huge amount of space for storage. But my method for water storage is the 5 gallon jugs that would be used for water coolers like at the office. They're prefilled and sealed and I can get about 9 on the bottom shelf of the pantry, so that's 45 gallons of water stored and easily movable, for 2 people. I was also checking out this interesting collapsible bag (aqua pod kit) that you can lay in your bath tub and fill to hold 65 gallons of tap water.

[Tater Raider]

I like the water BOB, but think it's one of those "last minute" deals you do when a disaster is just starting to unfold in your area, like putting it in place while boarding up windows for a huricane bug-in or something similar. It has it's place, but I prefer to have the needs already managed then have something like that to fall back onto more for a comfort buffer. YMMV.

It's a great idea though.

Put a ticker in my signature to track my 14 day water goal. 32 out of 108ℓ in 2 weeks ain't too bad, and on that pace I'll be good-to-go short-term come mid-April.

[Tater Raider]

Update: stockpiling water has gone much faster than anticipated. I'll be good-to-go short-term by the end of the month.

[goofygurl]

Update: stockpiling water has gone much faster than anticipated. I'll be good-to-go short-term by the end of the month.

LOL I have...12 liters..lol. Hey, give a girl some credit..that was a big fat 0 last week..lol

[Florida_Tony]

These are great for taking a shower without using much water. Paint it black, stick it in the sun, and you can have a "hot" shower.



http://www.amazon.com/Chapin-20000-1-Ga ... 948&sr=8-1

[KnightoftheRoc]

These are great for taking a shower without using much water. Paint it black, stick it in the sun, and you can have a "hot" shower.



http://www.amazon.com/Chapin-20000-1-Ga ... 948&sr=8-1

You can also bend the rigid tube back on it's elf if you need to, either with some judicious heat and bending, or with a cut and some tubing/clamps.

LOL I have...12 liters..lol. Hey, give a girl some credit..that was a big fat 0 last week..lol

That's faster than I've been going on it, and I'm a plumber, by trade. I mean, what excuse do I have?

I had a thought, for those who are looking at long term supply levels. Once you determine your needs, focus on getting the containers required, and skip the constant filling of small containers- let those be for short term needs, so you have SOMETHING. If your only option is smaller containers, 2l bottles, for example. Focus on storage space first, so you have someplace to put them. Then, every time you rinse out an emptied bottle of soda, you can fill it and store it- you'd be amazed at how fast they add up this way, with hardly any effort at all.

[goofygurl]

That's faster than I've been going on it, and I'm a plumber, by trade. I mean, what excuse do I have?

LOL I have TR yelling at me about getting 2 weeks stocked..otherwise I'd be lazing about it..

[KnightoftheRoc]

Another random, late night, caffeine-inspired thought on the topic:
For those of us using 2 liter soda bottles for storage- have any of us considered buying for the deposit value, bottles with caps from people returning them at the store? I prefer to only use clear bottles, so SODIS is an option with any of them, or I'd be long since past my goal with empty Mt. Dew bottles.

Everyone wins with this- the other guy gets his nickel a bottle, or whatever it is in your area, the store doesn't have to mess with it, and you get your bottles. Seems a good way to kill a Saturday morning, to me.

[goofygurl]

Picked up a random gallon of drinking water today..I don't have much space to store at the moment so gallons are where I'm going to end up for the most part.

[Tater Raider]

Another random, late night, caffeine-inspired thought on the topic:
For those of us using 2 liter soda bottles for storage- have any of us considered buying for the deposit value, bottles with caps from people returning them at the store? I prefer to only use clear bottles, so SODIS is an option with any of them, or I'd be long since past my goal with empty Mt. Dew bottles.

Everyone wins with this- the other guy gets his nickel a bottle, or whatever it is in your area, the store doesn't have to mess with it, and you get your bottles. Seems a good way to kill a Saturday morning, to me.

Unless it was used in place of a rest stop on a road trip.

[greenbeetle]

Well, for flushing I would use unfiltered water from the pond and wet land around my home. There is also a medium sized lake near by that takes me about 5 minutes to get to.
For laundry the lake water would be perfect, it's relatively clean.

"We have a pond in the back. We have a pool and a pond. The pond would be good for you."
-Ty Webb

[goofygurl]

4 more liters done today...blech..gotta find room for it all.

[Tank Woman]

Water is one of the areas we are working on too. While spring cleaning the pantry I realized we have 3 5 gallon carboys and about 100 empty wine bottles...sitting empty. *forehead smack*
We occasionally make up a batch or 2 of wine or mead, but dont have any going right now. Might as well stick some water in that stuff!

[goofygurl]

Water is one of the areas we are working on too. While spring cleaning the pantry I realized we have 3 5 gallon carboys and about 100 empty wine bottles...sitting empty. *forehead smack*
We occasionally make up a batch or 2 of wine or mead, but dont have any going right now. Might as well stick some water in that stuff!

100 empty wine bottles...that must have been a REALLY fun time..lol.

[bigmattdaddywack]

Subbed.

[duodecima]

I found a local source of food grade 55 gal drums. Making a first-flush diverter and another rain barrel (I have one I bought but don't care for the design) is now high on my to do list. Also considering where in my basement a couple more of them should go (Do I put a counter-top on top of them in the laundry room, and call them counter space, or do I get a barrel stacker and put them in an out-of-the-way corner. I lean towards laundry room - very close to the sink and the drain in middle of floor in case of leakage. Will have to convince husband of this...) After that, I would like to use one to create a slow(bio) sand filter.

Now that the pool supplies are back at the stores, I'm going to get a packet of this.

When I have actually accomplished all that, I will feel like I'm actually prepared, with regards to water. (Poke holes in this if you see them, please!)

[goofygurl]

I found a local source of food grade 55 gal drums. Making a first-flush diverter and another rain barrel (I have one I bought but don't care for the design) is now high on my to do list. Also considering where in my basement a couple more of them should go (Do I put a counter-top on top of them in the laundry room, and call them counter space, or do I get a barrel stacker and put them in an out-of-the-way corner. I lean towards laundry room - very close to the sink and the drain in middle of floor in case of leakage. Will have to convince husband of this...) After that, I would like to use one to create a slow(bio) sand filter.

Now that the pool supplies are back at the stores, I'm going to get a packet of this.

When I have actually accomplished all that, I will feel like I'm actually prepared, with regards to water. (Poke holes in this if you see them, please!)

I'd love to do a rain barrel but I think my landlords would have a fit. I'm pushing it getting permission to do the garden, which that reminds me, I now have to go learn how to garden..(hehe). It will just have to wait until I get moved and onto my own land.

[Mister Dark]

I have been working on the whole water storage thing for some time. Finally lucked up a few months ago and got an unused 275 gallon water tote for a good price. It is now buried in the back yard, set up as a rainwater catchement. First rain I had after it was put together, it filled all the way in less than 15 minutes, even with the first flush system and diverters. Absolutely amazing, and made me feel just a little more prepared.

Of course, its gonna be tough digging that thing out of the ground if I have to bug out. lol.

[Tater Raider]

I have been working on the whole water storage thing for some time. Finally lucked up a few months ago and got an unused 275 gallon water tote for a good price. It is now buried in the back yard, set up as a rainwater catchement. First rain I had after it was put together, it filled all the way in less than 15 minutes, even with the first flush system and diverters. Absolutely amazing, and made me feel just a little more prepared.

Of course, its gonna be tough digging that thing out of the ground if I have to bug out. lol.

Suspend in garage so you can lower it into the bed of your pick-up, assuming that's what you have? 'Course it means digging it up again, but...

[duodecima]

I'd love to do a rain barrel but I think my landlords would have a fit. I'm pushing it getting permission to do the garden, which that reminds me, I now have to go learn how to garden..(hehe). It will just have to wait until I get moved and onto my own land.

If the landlord pays utilities, I bet they'd love it if you watered the lawn, etc. with rain barrel water. (Which leads to the inevitable debate on exactly how risky it is to water edibles from the rain barrel. That's a whole 'nother thread's worth of info.) But seriously, it's a portable thing, you'd take it with you when you left. It's in, it's green, all the cool kids are doing it, you'd make their property look cooler... Once I get my set up made I'll post pics, process, and cost.

[goofygurl]

I'd love to do a rain barrel but I think my landlords would have a fit. I'm pushing it getting permission to do the garden, which that reminds me, I now have to go learn how to garden..(hehe). It will just have to wait until I get moved and onto my own land.

If the landlord pays utilities, I bet they'd love it if you watered the lawn, etc. with rain barrel water. (Which leads to the inevitable debate on exactly how risky it is to water edibles from the rain barrel. That's a whole 'nother thread's worth of info.) But seriously, it's a portable thing, you'd take it with you when you left. It's in, it's green, all the cool kids are doing it, you'd make their property look cooler... Once I get my set up made I'll post pics, process, and cost.

They pay trash and that's it..I pay everything else. They're just asses. I just had to get rid of MY dog because they put a doggy door in their back door..so every time I let my dog out, theirs were out there too..and the one got hurt b/c my puppy was huge and theirs are tiny football sized dogs.

Btw, I live behind their house and we share a yard.

[Tater Raider]

Short-Term Water Supply goal (1 man + 3 cats, 2 weeks) has been met at a total cost of about $27 (US). I have a mix of cases of 0.5ℓ bottles and 2ℓ soda bottles recycled for water storage.

It can be done, quickly and inexpensively at that.