The greatest invention of the last 3 millenia.

[Requia ☣]

My water has gone missing.  My jug of nice clean, slightly toxic, but above all tasty wellwater vanished.  I'm more pissed about the jug than the water, money is tight right now, and they started selling cheaper plastic caps on the dollar jugs of water, which means I'll need to buy a gallon of milk to replace it (which is still cheaper than empty jugs).

Anyway, it occurred to me, as I gave in and went to the sink, that the fact I can turn a nob, and cut cold drinkable water, and turn a different nob to get hot water.  Compared to how most people lived throughout history, and still live in far too many places, this is beyond amazing.  Forget computers, forget electric lights, forget airplanes, tap water is a damned miracle from the gods.

When civilization dies, and I have either joined Roger's cannibal tribe, or have enlisted with Enrico's Ostrich riding tranny calvary, tap water will be what I miss most.

And if you don't believe me, go without it for a week.

[Triple Zero]

Hell yeah, I remember when our city had no water (had a leak somewhere, worried about contamination, or something) for one evening, night and morning. It's fucked up, you can't shower, brush your teeth, make tea or coffee, or indeed, just drink a glass of water (I don't drink that much soda or lemonade or fruitdrinks from bottles, so I didn't have much in my fridge either), friggin' zerg rush on the bottled water in the supermarkets next day, too.

I still need to buy a couple of big bottles of bottled water, so I won't be without in case it happens again.

[Richter]

I've made do with less camping and sailing, but it does make you focus on how groady stuff can get without the ability to  twist a tap and sluice it off at will.  (Less of a problem on the ocean, admitedly.)  That seemingly inexhaustable tap does allot to keep us from being crusty, rude haired wild men.

I spent one summer without hot water and you can do OK without.  It would have SUCKED in the winter though.
(A game of "who breaks and pays for heating oil first" with the roomies of the time.  I won when one of them had a lady friend start staying over often.)

[Dysfunctional Cunt]

I have always said indoor plumbing is the last thing I would be able to give up.  I appreciate running water, but I've used an indoor pump and it won't kill me.  Running outside to an outhouse would!

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

I keep about 10 milk jugs full of water in my basement all the time and cycle them every six months. Between broken water lines or disasters... having a bit of water set back seems too easy and necessary to skip....

[Dysfunctional Cunt]

I do the same.  I have 6 5-gallon water bottles I keep full all the time.  It's from living in a hurricane zone for so many years. 

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

It's a really good idea. I have one of those big blue 5-gallon containers.

The thing is, something like an earthquake could easily sever water lines, so you never know when you might need it. That actually reminds me, I need to assess our earthquake-readiness... I  think we need more salt, liquor, and first-aid supplies. I was also planning to get a tripod and cauldron for cooking over a fire if need be... I don't have a wood stove or fireplace, which is another thing I'm going to have to remedy eventually.

If you live in an area with a lot of diverted streams, like Portland, it's a good idea to look on a map to find your nearest underground creek, and then go locate the manhole cover closet to you. If it comes down to that, you can use the stream as a water source: they are usually completely separated from the stormwater runoff drains.

[Richter]

Nigel:  I like your big blue jug idea!  That would solve the potential contamination issues of rebottling your own.  I'll grab one the next time I see it cheap.
For outdoor cooking, if you're handy w/ hammer and torch, you can knock one out of rebar.  Cast Iron dutch ovens are PERFECT for this too.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Nigel:  I like your big blue jug idea!  That would solve the potential contamination issues of rebottling your own.  I'll grab one the next time I see it cheap.
For outdoor cooking, if you're handy w/ hammer and torch, you can knock one out of rebar.  Cast Iron dutch ovens are PERFECT for this too.

Ohhhh good idea about the rebar!

[Richter]

Is how I made mine.  If you scrounge, you get it for free, and you get to play ghetto blacksmith!   

[Dysfunctional Cunt]

I have also used the swingset frame. 

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I actually just found a tripod for $13, I'm just gonna buy that.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

Also, a spit is an amazing tool for emergency cooking.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Yeah, a spit would be handy if I had some meat, but most of my emergency provisions are things like beans, rice, canned tomatoes, etc... so being able to make soup is really crucial!

I suppose there could come the time when I would be eating dogs and squirrels, but in terms of being prepared for living without utilities after a natural disaster, my main concerns are heat, fresh water, medical supplies, and being able to cook the food I have at hand.

Also, I have a large wood/charcoal BBQ/smoker in the back yard already. I could probably use it for making soup in a dutch oven, actually.

[Requia ☣]

Fucking health inspector made me throw out my grill.     I need to get a smaller one i can hide from him.

Also... salt.  It never occured to me until just now I'll need that if things go to hell.  I'm usually trying to eat less of the stuff.