[kev]

One of the WEAKEST areas of our culture is our water. We can live with out electricity, but we can NOT live without water.

My idea, if we have advanced warning that an event might be close at hand, get a couple of these blow up swimming pools. The one in the pictures below holds about 350 - 400 gallons. Dont let the kids swim in the pool if you are going to be using the water out of it.

One pool could be used to water the back yard garden, while the other pool can be used to cook with, or flushing the toilets.

For example, lets say this pool holds 350 gallons. Then lets say your toilet takes 3 gallons to flush. So you should be able to flush your toilet 116.6 times with the water from this pool.

With two pools, you should be able to fill them in about 6 hours with a water hose. Even if you do not rain for a couple of weeks, these pools should have enough water to keep your back yard garden going.

For drinkable water, run the water from the pool through your water filter.

You should be able to spend less then 100 bucks to be able to hold 700+ gallons.

 

[Per Ardua]

I consider our pool a backup source for water. Not a really big pool but contains just under 10,000 gallons.

-Per.

 

[Ammo]

One of my sons has a couple of these, to place on the corners of his house.
The intent is to loosen the downspouts, from the gutter, direct them into the pools, and catch rainwater.
He realizes, he will have to filter etc. to some extent, if used for drinking.
He has a metal roof.

 

[Per Ardua]

If looking at putting a catchment under a downspout check and see if your municipality subsidizes a rain barrel program. Some do and one can get a barrel inexpensively. Makes for a great garden watering source too.

Cheers,
-Per.

 

[Jerry D Young]

You might want to consider covering the pools, once full, with a sheet of plastic to hold down the evaporation.

 

[Kenno]

I buy blue plastic 50 gallon syrup drums at $3 ea.

 

[Per Ardua]

50 gallon drums at $3 ea!? Wow - where?

 

[Kenno]

I got mine used from a local farm that uses grain alchacol to distill tinctures of plants.

 

[kev]

There are some places around here that sell drums pretty cheap. In one of my threads, I posted my 16 gallon drums. Those drums cost 9 dollars as compared to 7 dollars for a 5 gallon gas can.

Per - check the local feed stores, sometimes they will have 35 - 55 gallon plastic drums for farm use.

 

[Per Ardua]

I do believe I will be stoping at the farmers co-op on the next trip by...

Thx,
-Per.

 

[Reality Czech]

For watering the gardens and the lawn around the house, I hooked up a 1,500 gallon poly tank to a gutter system on the back garage.
Talked to the farmers today, and he said to expect 3 to 4 inches of rain tonight. I need to dump about 750 gallons out today, to make room for fresh rainwater.
That 4'x4' building to the right is my smokehouse.
I also have a 35 gal barrel to collect the condensation water from the A/C.....it can put out more than 10 gal/day during hot, humid weather.

 

[Jocke]

Very decent! Where could one get one of those?

 

[Per Ardua]

I have a pamphlet on some tanks that I just picked up yesterday. I don't have it with me but I'll check for it when I get home (hopefully the wife didn't pictch). I'll post the company info and a website if there is one.

Cheers,
-Per.

 

[Per Ardua]

I have a pamphlet on some tanks that I just picked up yesterday.

The company is Norwesco. www.norwesco.com

Cheers,
-Per.

 

[kev]

The deer lease I am on has a home made raised water storage tank. A genny is used to pump the water from a near by creek into the tank. The gravity flow works good enough to wash the deer blood off after you get finished skinning your kill.

In this picture you can see the storage tank in the back, with the butchering table and bar-b-q pit in the front of the picture.

 

[Kenno]

I would expect to pay more than $3 for the 50 gallon drums but even at $15 it's a decent buy. I have made stock feeders and water tubs out of mine they are very handy for many uses. The large poly tanks are available through farmers supply stores.

 

[Ponce]

How about a larger water bed? I just to have one back in the 70's and it held a hell of a lot of water......for bathing and toilet?........you can even sleep on it while it held water and it will be indoors :thumb:

 

[freakmonkey]

http://mywatersafe.com/ works well

 

[Josiah922]

I agree with Jerry. You should cover the pool ASAP to prevent leaves and other stuff from falling in and keep the sun light out as much as possible.

Awesome idea though. I mean I knew a large swimming pool would be good, but I didn't even think about a couple of small pools. Smart man that Kev.

 

[Grinnan Barrett]

Watch out for barrels that were used for chemicals. Don't use them ever for fresh water. the plastic absorbs some of the chemicals and never goes away. I work for a chemical company and can tell you that it is a fact. Look for food grade stuff like was mentioned for syrup. Places like Kraft plants use them. I agree with Kev in that you want to go with smaller ones like 16, 20 or no bigger than 30 gallons. A 30 gallon barrel full of water weighs over 290 pounds. when you factor in the barrel itself.

Clean any barrel you buy that was used. Be sure you have a bung wrench to open and close it. you may also want to have a barrel pump.