I haven't seen some of these covered before, so here are a few things I've been thinking about. Comments?

On December 31, before 7:00 pm EST (midnight UTC) take care of the following:

- Everyone in the house should have bathed. Don't forget and have to wash up with survival water.

- Do ALL your laundry the day before (12/30). Fill the washing machine with water, chlorinate it and shut the lid.

- Clean out (chlorine cleanser, plenty of rinsing) the tub and fill it with water. Drop in half a cup of bleach and lay a plastic drop cloth over it (tape the edges of the plastic to the tub). The point is to try to keep dust from settling into the water and hold in the chlorine. This water is excellent for wiping up spills, wetting the dishrag, washing your hands after the bathroom, etc. If you did a good enough job cleaning the tub it can be consumed, but I'd personally prefer not to.

- Fill any pots and pans you won't need for cooking with fresh water and put on the lids. Add chlorine if you won't use it for a day or two.

- Use the water in your water heater. It holds 30-50 gallons (potable) and can be drained from the bottom. If sediment comes out run the water through a coffee filter.

- Clean and fill any buckets you have. Again, more secondary water that can let you save your potable for consumption.

- Keep a five gallon bucket for latrine use. I see some references about saving water for toilet flushing, but that seems like a waste. Put a trash bag in the bucket and use the deodorizing kitty litter to cover and absorb the waste. Replace the trash bag every day or whenever its too gross. Put a toilet seat on the bucket top. Keep the bucket in the garage.

- Anyone using cloth diapers: switch to disposables for Y2K use.

- Once water pressure is lost, IMMEDIATELY turn off the water inlet valve at the meter. Loss of pressure outside can cause backflow (loss of the water in your house) or contamination from the outside system can be let in with an open valve. Keep it shut for the duration.

- Real question: What else can you do with water that's been used for boiling pasta? I'd hate to have to dump out that much sterile, but carb/protein laden water. Any cooks with ideas? Steam veggies? I know NOTHING about cooking (but can handle a manual can opener).

The usual advice is for 1 gal/day/person. I'd think by separating the potable water used only for drinking from the other (washing machine, bathtub, bucket) water that can be used for bathing and cleanup, the storage requirements are more easily met.

-- Gary S. (garys_2k@yahoo.com), December 07, 1999

Answers

Two more things: Get some handi-wipes and that waterless hand washing compound and use those instead of water to wash with; use disposable cups, plates, knives and forks. Saves water for consumption instead of cleaning.

Since water is one of the most important commodities for survival, I'll spend a few $ on the plastic ware (can be used later for a picnic if any is left) and hold onto the water for as long as possible.

-- Gary S. (garys_2k@yahoo.com), December 07, 1999.

Good post, Gary.

I hope someone will repost it on December 30 and 31.

-- walt (longyear@shentel.net), December 07, 1999.

Gary,

Thanks for some good ideas.

Don't throw out the water from pasta or potatoes. Lots of goodies end up in the leftover liquids. For sourdough fans, potato water helps to recharge tired starters.

You can use it to make broth or soup; soak beans in it for cooking the next day; use it in place of water in other recipes {do you have at least a paperback copy of the 'Joy of Cooking', 'Fannie Farmer' or another basic cookbook?}.

I'm sure others have plenty of good ideas.

-- flora (***@__._), December 07, 1999.

Why throw out the pasta water? Cook in very little water, so that the pasta takes it up, and if the water is cooking down too far, add a little at a time. Stir frequently. When the pasta is cooked, add your sauce or whatever, using the water that the pasta is in.

If you're draining the pasta and rinsing, or something like that, you need to rethink your cooking methods.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), December 07, 1999.

Ho ho ho,

Now son, DON'T go making deposits in your 5 gallon bucket like that, it is liable to get quite messy and smelly, very quick!

Instead of trash bags, throw a couple inches of sawdust in the bottom of that bucket, and with each deposit made, toss another scoop of sawdust on top! No unsightly mess, very little odor (none at all if you use cedar sawdust)! Once the bucket is 2/3 full, take it out into the yard and start a compost pile -- just add some leaves and/or grass clippings to cover up the deposit. This is the very best, safest way to utilize that 5 gallon bucket toilet.

Now, Santa COULD fill your stocking with sawdust if you really want it, but --- ho, ho, ho -- you can find all you want FREE at any local lumberyard or saw mill! Take a garbage can with you and fill 'er up!

Make my cookies chocolate chip on 12/24. Be good, I'm watching!

that jolly old elf himself

-- S. Claus (jolly.old@saint.nick), December 07, 1999.

Santa,

You've been nippin' at the Christmas cheer a bit early, eh?

-- flora (***@__._), December 07, 1999.

I believe the polish used the water from boiling potatoes (starchy water) to make their potato breads. Also, the Russians used this type of water to make their vodka. Good question, and maybe a very good idea, huh Gary?

-- sue (number9@mindspring.com), December 07, 1999.

I work in the water industry. Based on what little I, and everyone else knows about the status of the water treatment facilities, I would suggest treating any water that may come out of your tap after 12/31/99 the same way you would treat tap water in Mexico.

-- Water Man (waterman@state.off), December 08, 1999.

The Chinese drink the noodle water. I use it in soup, have done for years.

-- && (&&@&&.&), December 08, 1999.