Thursday, February 4, 2010

storm prep - non-potable water without the waste

it's always good to have extra water on hand during hurricane season. Water for drinking, water for flushing toilets. We never knew that Fredericksburg would be such a stormy place. Tornadoes, blizzards - these weren't in the description we read! Living out in the country, or living in a suburban neighborhood - everyone can lose power in an ice storm and you never know which way a tornado will track. It's a good idea to have a storm kit - batteries, flashlights, canned food, dry food (remember to pack a can opener with the canned food!), drinking water for everyone, toilet paper, paper towels, etc.

We usually fill the tub with water to flush the toilets, but have not had to use that water so it just goes down the drain a few days after the storm has passed. That seems like such a waste when I am trying to reduce my carbon footprint, and conserve resources - especially water! So we hatched on a new idea - cheap 5 gallon paint buckets with lids. We can fill them and keep them covered. That way there is always water so if power goes out for any reason - especially the unexpected reasons, we have water and can flush away! Also, if we have gone for a couple of months without needing it - I can use that water to water my plants and then refresh it with new water so it doesn't get gross. Your local hardware store carries those buckets for around $5, including the lid so it's not a heavy burden on your monthly budget, and since you won't be drinking the water you can always use the buckets for other projects if you need to.

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