Month 2 - Water, Water, Water!
Tip of the Month: If we lose water, bathing is a luxury. Not all body parts need the same level of cleanliness. Instead of taking a shower,
you can use a washcloth, soap and a little water to clean up. Put aside the amount of water you are allocating for bathing and stay within your water budget.
Step 1: Safe Drinking Water
Access to safe drinking water is essential. This month we’ll identify some places that you can easily access safe drinking water in your house and learn how to purify other sources of water. The idea is to stay hydrated.
Step 2: Securing water
This month we’re also going to assess how much water you may need in case of a major disaster. For some disasters, such as a major earthquake, you could be without running water for several weeks to several months. The checklist will walk you through assessing how much water you will need and what might be good containers to store the quantity of water you need.
Month 2: 2 Steps a Month Handout
Month 2: 2 Steps a Month Handout for Students
Do Now!
Have a way to purify water such as unscented, plain bleach. It's also helpful to write the recipe for purifying water on the bleach container in a permanent marker or on a paper where you keep your bleach. "Use 1/8 tsp per gallon of water. Stir. Wait 30 minutes. If it doesn't smell lightly of bleach, add 1/8 tsp. of bleach again. Wait 15 minutes. If it smells like bleach, it's okay. If not, don't drink it."
Have a way to purify water such as unscented, plain bleach. It's also helpful to write the recipe for purifying water on the bleach container in a permanent marker or on a paper where you keep your bleach. "Use 1/8 tsp per gallon of water. Stir. Wait 30 minutes. If it doesn't smell lightly of bleach, add 1/8 tsp. of bleach again. Wait 15 minutes. If it smells like bleach, it's okay. If not, don't drink it."
3-Gallons/Day 3-Day Challenge
Take the 3-day challenge! Can you use 3 gallons of water or less for drinking, cleaning, cooking and bathing? (We’ll assume that you have your sanitation plan in place and you can use the toilet.) Many people have prepare for only 1 gallon a day. So see how you would do with 3 gallons. It’s doable but it requires some forethought and creative bathing (bucket baths or sponge baths). Put your 3 gallons out in the morning and stick to your budget. Get your family and friends to join in. Here are the guidelines for the 3 gallon challenge with frequently asked questions answered.
To give you some strategies on dealing with a limited water supply, you will be doing the 3-Day Challenge where you will use only 3 gallons of water each day for 3 days in this simulation activity. (That means there is a total of 9 gallons for the 3 days.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for 3-Day Challenge for Students
Q: Do I have to do this?
A: Yes. Most students were very unhappy when they were told about the project, but after completing it said they learned a lot and feel much more prepared for an emergency. They still don't all like the project, but they found it very valuable. And yes, some kids actually rise to the challenge and enjoyed it. Treat it like camping in your own house, which is what a major disaster may be like.
Q: What if I have sports?
A: Stay hydrated. This is a simulation. There is no need to get dehydrated. In a real emergency, your extra curricular activities would be cancelled. Remember sports drinks count towards your water limit. If you go over your 3 gallon limit, then continue to do the challenge and see how much water you use.
Q: Do I have to do the 3 days in a row?
A: Yes. It is a more meaningful experience and more challenging to do it three consecutive days.
Q: If I go to a restaurant or eat at a friend's do I need to count water?
A: Yes! The food was prepared with water and the dishes were washed. You may not know the exact amount, but estimate what you think it took and count it.
Q: Can I take a shower during the 3 days?
A: No. A low flow shower lets out 2 gallons per minute. So you're note going to manage to take a shower on your limited water budget. What some folks do is save some of their water and the last day take a bucket bath. (Bucket bath instructions: Get a large container with water and a plastic cup and pour some water on yourself. Lather up. Rinse.) I lived in Fiji and had no running water. I can take a bucket bath, including washing my very long hair, in 2 gallons. Washing hair is probably not going to happen after a major disaster where we lose water. So use a lot less than that for your bathing. The other strategy is called a sponge bath, which is where you get a wet washcloth or sponge and just clean the important parts of your body that need it.
Q: How do I keep track of my 3 gallons?
A: The easiest way is to have some container that you use to measure out your quantity. For example, you could use a thoroughly cleaned 1 gallon container and pull your water from that. You'd be able to fill it up twice throughout the day. So you would pour of some water into a cup to brush your teeth or wash your dishes. If you have new 5-gallon containers for your emergency toilet, then you could fill it 3/5 full (= 3 gallons) and use that for the day. Another strategy is to record every cup you use and add that all up. It's a great math exercise, but it's a lot easier to have a larger container and get water from that.
Q: How do I measure water from a drinking fountain?
A: You need to bring a water bottle with you and use them. Fill it up from your larger container.
Q: If I only get 3 gallons, can I flush the toilet?
A: Yes. If this were a real emergency, you would be using your 5 gallon bucket system.
Q: Do my family members need to do it also?
A: No, but it is a good exercise. They are welcome to join you in the challenge.
Q: If my family wants to do it with me, do they also get 3 gallons each day?
A: Yes. Every person who participates gets 3 gallons/day.
Q: Has Ms. Newburn done the 3-Day Challenge?
A: Yes, I've done it. I also did a 2 month challenge to see if I could use only 10 gallons of city water a day. I do have 4000 gallons of rainwater catchment and used that water to irrigate my garden and flush my toilet. (Water is very heavy to carry - 1 gallon weighs a little over 8 lbs!) I managed to use only 11 gallons of water a day for 2 months and that included bathing, washing clothes, etc. So see if you like the 3-day challenge try to beat my 2 month challenge!
Q: If it rains during the three days, can I capture the water to get extra water?
A: Yes. If you capture it from a roof, you will only want to use this for bathing. If this was a real emergency, you would purify this water with unscented bleach or a camping water purifier. Remember you would want to stretch your water as much as possible. Bathing will be low on the priority list in a real emergency.
Q: I have a pool (or hot tub). Can I use that water to get extra water above the 3 gallons?
A: Yes. Remember this water cannot be used for cooking or drinking. It can be used for bathing. You will need to take a container with some of the water into your shower and do a bucket bath.
Take the 3-day challenge! Can you use 3 gallons of water or less for drinking, cleaning, cooking and bathing? (We’ll assume that you have your sanitation plan in place and you can use the toilet.) Many people have prepare for only 1 gallon a day. So see how you would do with 3 gallons. It’s doable but it requires some forethought and creative bathing (bucket baths or sponge baths). Put your 3 gallons out in the morning and stick to your budget. Get your family and friends to join in. Here are the guidelines for the 3 gallon challenge with frequently asked questions answered.
To give you some strategies on dealing with a limited water supply, you will be doing the 3-Day Challenge where you will use only 3 gallons of water each day for 3 days in this simulation activity. (That means there is a total of 9 gallons for the 3 days.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for 3-Day Challenge for Students
Q: Do I have to do this?
A: Yes. Most students were very unhappy when they were told about the project, but after completing it said they learned a lot and feel much more prepared for an emergency. They still don't all like the project, but they found it very valuable. And yes, some kids actually rise to the challenge and enjoyed it. Treat it like camping in your own house, which is what a major disaster may be like.
Q: What if I have sports?
A: Stay hydrated. This is a simulation. There is no need to get dehydrated. In a real emergency, your extra curricular activities would be cancelled. Remember sports drinks count towards your water limit. If you go over your 3 gallon limit, then continue to do the challenge and see how much water you use.
Q: Do I have to do the 3 days in a row?
A: Yes. It is a more meaningful experience and more challenging to do it three consecutive days.
Q: If I go to a restaurant or eat at a friend's do I need to count water?
A: Yes! The food was prepared with water and the dishes were washed. You may not know the exact amount, but estimate what you think it took and count it.
Q: Can I take a shower during the 3 days?
A: No. A low flow shower lets out 2 gallons per minute. So you're note going to manage to take a shower on your limited water budget. What some folks do is save some of their water and the last day take a bucket bath. (Bucket bath instructions: Get a large container with water and a plastic cup and pour some water on yourself. Lather up. Rinse.) I lived in Fiji and had no running water. I can take a bucket bath, including washing my very long hair, in 2 gallons. Washing hair is probably not going to happen after a major disaster where we lose water. So use a lot less than that for your bathing. The other strategy is called a sponge bath, which is where you get a wet washcloth or sponge and just clean the important parts of your body that need it.
Q: How do I keep track of my 3 gallons?
A: The easiest way is to have some container that you use to measure out your quantity. For example, you could use a thoroughly cleaned 1 gallon container and pull your water from that. You'd be able to fill it up twice throughout the day. So you would pour of some water into a cup to brush your teeth or wash your dishes. If you have new 5-gallon containers for your emergency toilet, then you could fill it 3/5 full (= 3 gallons) and use that for the day. Another strategy is to record every cup you use and add that all up. It's a great math exercise, but it's a lot easier to have a larger container and get water from that.
Q: How do I measure water from a drinking fountain?
A: You need to bring a water bottle with you and use them. Fill it up from your larger container.
Q: If I only get 3 gallons, can I flush the toilet?
A: Yes. If this were a real emergency, you would be using your 5 gallon bucket system.
Q: Do my family members need to do it also?
A: No, but it is a good exercise. They are welcome to join you in the challenge.
Q: If my family wants to do it with me, do they also get 3 gallons each day?
A: Yes. Every person who participates gets 3 gallons/day.
Q: Has Ms. Newburn done the 3-Day Challenge?
A: Yes, I've done it. I also did a 2 month challenge to see if I could use only 10 gallons of city water a day. I do have 4000 gallons of rainwater catchment and used that water to irrigate my garden and flush my toilet. (Water is very heavy to carry - 1 gallon weighs a little over 8 lbs!) I managed to use only 11 gallons of water a day for 2 months and that included bathing, washing clothes, etc. So see if you like the 3-day challenge try to beat my 2 month challenge!
Q: If it rains during the three days, can I capture the water to get extra water?
A: Yes. If you capture it from a roof, you will only want to use this for bathing. If this was a real emergency, you would purify this water with unscented bleach or a camping water purifier. Remember you would want to stretch your water as much as possible. Bathing will be low on the priority list in a real emergency.
Q: I have a pool (or hot tub). Can I use that water to get extra water above the 3 gallons?
A: Yes. Remember this water cannot be used for cooking or drinking. It can be used for bathing. You will need to take a container with some of the water into your shower and do a bucket bath.
Community Organizing Tips
- Price some larger rain or water storage barrels and see if you can get a discount for bulk purchases or on shipping.
- Have someone price out the cost of some 30- and 55-gallon tanks and take orders by going around to neighbors or presenting the idea at a community meeting. Many people are willing to write a check if the research and options are presented, but are less likely to make the effort to do the research and purchase one on their own.
- Several neighbors can pitch in a certain amount each month and then each month by a 55 gallon container until all folks have one. For example, get 4 neighbors together to buy an $80 barrel and if everyone pays $20 each month, you can buy one a month for 4 months and at the end of four months each household has one. This may be easier on people's budgets.
Teacher Resources
- Students will also pick 3 consecutive days (preferably a Friday, Saturday and Sunday) to do the 3 Gallons a Day 3 Day Challenge. They have to record and reflect on how they managed to use a limited number of gallons in this simulation activity.
- Since people’s resources and space may vary greatly, the main thing was to get people to secure at least 3 days’ worth of water. See the “Low Cost” section on the handout.
- Full credit for this assignment is given for having it filled in and signed by a parent or guardian.
- Encouraging people to do on-line research about different food-grade water storage and sharing it can help to increase the likelihood that people purchase larger containers.
- Make sure several people at your school, besides the maintenance staff, knows how to turn off emergency shutoffs and where emergency shutoff wrenches are located. Have a few people go along with a maintenance person and have them show where and how to turn off different emergency shutoffs. I did this with a camera and made a short 10-minute video that all the people on the Utilities Shutoff Team watched. Each year we can simply watch the movie to remind ourselves of the basics or use it to inform new staff of the procedures. Remember: when practicing, do not turn them off. Record on a school map where these shutoffs are located. Go through a drill about every half year to remind yourself of the shutoff procedures.
Additional Resources
Guidelines for Managing Water Supplies - essentials for how to manage and purify water. Source FEMA.gov
Guidelines for Managing Water Supplies - essentials for how to manage and purify water. Source FEMA.gov