Doomsday Preppers Assessments- WATER

[1Admin]

Just for fun folks. Although after this thread has gone a while I might see about having Practical Preppers take a look at these and see how they compare.

Sooooo..... watching the 2nd season on DVD we were chatting as a family about the numbers people got for their assessments.

What do you think one would have to do to get a "20" (Perfect score) in WATER preps?

They are obviously very big on rain catchment and I think that's a big factor in the water score. However I have yet to see anyone with a truly phenomenal water setup.

What do YOU think it would take to get a "20" (Perfect score) in WATER preps on one of these assessments?

Remember it's just for fun, yes the show has it's nutjobs, heck I rail about them more than just about anyone else..... That's not what this thread is about. Maybe if we brainstorm on what a perfect score would be, some of us might get some ideas to improve/upgrade their water systems.

I know I'm doing some upgrades along those lines and every new structure, no matter how small is getting a rain catchment system. The one on the chicken shed is near some barrel planters and can water them or be a backup to the backup supply of water for the chickens, etc.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

at least a month stored water for every person, plant and animal during peak heat
rain catchment system
2 wells on solar and manual with one attached to the living quarters
a pond and a flowing creek within 1/4 mile
several filtration systems from backpack to household for at least a year

[WiseOwl]

at least a month stored water for every person, plant and animal during peak heat
rain catchment system
2 wells on solar and manual with one attached to the living quarters
a pond and a flowing creek within 1/4 mile
several filtration systems from backpack to household for at least a
year

Other than having a pet rain cloud, MIO hit it all.

[justanothergunnut]

since a 20 would be a PERFECT score ill take a stab at it simply from my perspective of perfection.

I. Multiple sources
II. Multiple and redundant methods of retrieval
III. Multiple storage methods and locations
IV. Multiple methods of water treatment


A. I would wan't a body (or multiple)of water that is under MY control. A pond would be great but I would feel better having a natural spring and a year round creek or river running through my property I could then add a pond.
1. A water line from the source to one of the outbuildings in my fenced common area as well as near my garden. The line could be attached to a pump at a later date should the need arise..
2. man portable water transport system. even something as simple as a deer cart with a 55gal drum and a 12vdc water pump. To transport water from the pond/stream/river to a safe location where it can be processed or used
B. A water catchment system on the main buildings that drain to below ground tanks.. even if these tanks are nothing more than a farm of 55gal drums. I want them below ground , covert, and safe. Install a water line from them back to the same outbuilding that has the line from the pond.
1. some tarps.. I know crazy... however, if rain harvesting becomes one of my primary methods of getting water I have to maximize surface area to collect that rain water.. During the wettest times of the year I could suspend the 15x25 tarps between pine trees at a downward slope and increase my harvest considerably. A portable transport system on a cart would be very helpful here to pump from the 55gal drum at each tarp and transport it back to a main holding tank.. Spare holding tanks are key in areas where ground water is scarce and rain fall is minimal. Southern California is one of these areas. Ideally I want to store 20-30k gallons not 2500.. you guys back east dont have to worry about that.LOL
C. A well positioned INSIDE my fenced common area, again security is key I want to assure no one can tamper with it. that can be run from solar and has a structure positioned over it that will allow easy removal of the pipe and pump should I need to. (we placed a windmill metal structure over our well that is tall enough to hoist out the pipe sections and get to the pump easily) Easy and quick removal is important in my opinion so that if the pump goes bad a temporary 12vdc "stinger" pump (of which I would have 2)can be lowered into the well and still provide limited amounts of drinking water while repairs are made.. assuming they can be. In addition, assuming the well is shallow enough I would want a backup hand pump(as well as backup service parts) that can easily be attached to the well head.
1. Storage: 2 2500 gal above ground water tanks with the overflow going to below ground tanks(or barrel farm). I want some below ground storage because as a attacker who may wan't to put a siege on your place its WAY too easy to just shoot holes in your water tanks and wait for you to run out of water.
D. water filtration and treatment as all of us know are a must. Especially when we start drawing on water that is not from our well or spring. Here the solutions are as would be expected, chemical and filtration. Aside from the normal filter set ups with back up filters and chemicals ie bleach/chlorine I would also build a sand box filtration system. They can be very effective but from my understanding can take a few days to get up and conditioned. Also being as im from the land of continuous sun I would have a method of solar purification. Even if it is nothing more than 50 clear plastic water bottles I could set out on a rack and allow UV purification.. Something is better than nothing..

In conclusion, I could elaborate more, I know I left things out and had unformed and incomplete thoughts but the point is, water is pretty darned important. If we practice the rules of redundancy with nothing else in our preps we must do it with water.

[protus]

Like mio said multiple and redundant sources /treatments /storage. Or just drink your filtered pee and score an 14.
I've wondered how the get there numbers as each Case it varies. One Guy will have a well...a basic filter and a single rain cistern set up and score 17 ...while another has a well..pond..2-4 filter methods and a 250 gallon poly tank..yet score a 12.
Let alone their locations.

But I think a well..with renewable power. Or manual pump ability...redundant filter /purification systems...secondary sources like stream /pond /rainwater and a decent sized storage ability should score pretty high.
Of course some cases of Walmart water or those aqua blocks that sponsor the show could put you over the top. Lmao.

[All Talk]

Redoubt on a small island in a massive freshwater lake.

[Grand58742]

at least a month stored water for every person, plant and animal during peak heat
rain catchment system
2 wells on solar and manual with one attached to the living quarters
a pond and a flowing creek within 1/4 mile
several filtration systems from backpack to household for at least a year

Personally, I'd push the pond out a ways myself. Creek is fine where it's at, but the standing water will attract mosquitoes and other dangerous pests. Maybe a half mile? Still within somewhat easy walking distance for fishing (which I know is why you're bringing it up lol) but far enough away for disease ridden insects to be mitigated.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Personally, I'd push the pond out a ways myself. Creek is fine where it's at, but the standing water will attract mosquitoes and other dangerous pests. Maybe a half mile? Still within somewhat easy walking distance for fishing (which I know is why you're bringing it up lol) but far enough away for disease ridden insects to be mitigated.

My thought was during real bad juju it would be close enough for minimum exposure while hauling heavy stuff with both hands being busy while being covered on overwatch from the residence where the most firepower could be concentrated and close enough to contain animals within a walkable/herdable distance to move them closer to the residence before dark when the most danger of being killed or stolen would be
or cause fishermen don't like to walk to far
you pick:) LOL

[Grand58742]

Not a bad line of thinking.

Second option lol

[1Admin]

since a 20 would be a PERFECT score ill take a stab at it simply from my perspective of perfection.

I. Multiple sources
II. Multiple and redundant methods of retrieval
III. Multiple storage methods and locations
IV. Multiple methods of water treatment


A. I would wan't a body (or multiple)of water that is under MY control. A pond would be great but I would feel better having a natural spring and a year round creek or river running through my property I could then add a pond.
1. A water line from the source to one of the outbuildings in my fenced common area as well as near my garden. The line could be attached to a pump at a later date should the need arise..
2. man portable water transport system. even something as simple as a deer cart with a 55gal drum and a 12vdc water pump. To transport water from the pond/stream/river to a safe location where it can be processed or used
B. A water catchment system on the main buildings that drain to below ground tanks.. even if these tanks are nothing more than a farm of 55gal drums. I want them below ground , covert, and safe. Install a water line from them back to the same outbuilding that has the line from the pond.
1. some tarps.. I know crazy... however, if rain harvesting becomes one of my primary methods of getting water I have to maximize surface area to collect that rain water.. During the wettest times of the year I could suspend the 15x25 tarps between pine trees at a downward slope and increase my harvest considerably. A portable transport system on a cart would be very helpful here to pump from the 55gal drum at each tarp and transport it back to a main holding tank.. Spare holding tanks are key in areas where ground water is scarce and rain fall is minimal. Southern California is one of these areas. Ideally I want to store 20-30k gallons not 2500.. you guys back east dont have to worry about that.LOL
C. A well positioned INSIDE my fenced common area, again security is key I want to assure no one can tamper with it. that can be run from solar and has a structure positioned over it that will allow easy removal of the pipe and pump should I need to. (we placed a windmill metal structure over our well that is tall enough to hoist out the pipe sections and get to the pump easily) Easy and quick removal is important in my opinion so that if the pump goes bad a temporary 12vdc "stinger" pump (of which I would have 2)can be lowered into the well and still provide limited amounts of drinking water while repairs are made.. assuming they can be. In addition, assuming the well is shallow enough I would want a backup hand pump(as well as backup service parts) that can easily be attached to the well head.
1. Storage: 2 2500 gal above ground water tanks with the overflow going to below ground tanks(or barrel farm). I want some below ground storage because as a attacker who may wan't to put a siege on your place its WAY too easy to just shoot holes in your water tanks and wait for you to run out of water.
D. water filtration and treatment as all of us know are a must. Especially when we start drawing on water that is not from our well or spring. Here the solutions are as would be expected, chemical and filtration. Aside from the normal filter set ups with back up filters and chemicals ie bleach/chlorine I would also build a sand box filtration system. They can be very effective but from my understanding can take a few days to get up and conditioned. Also being as im from the land of continuous sun I would have a method of solar purification. Even if it is nothing more than 50 clear plastic water bottles I could set out on a rack and allow UV purification.. Something is better than nothing..

In conclusion, I could elaborate more, I know I left things out and had unformed and incomplete thoughts but the point is, water is pretty darned important. If we practice the rules of redundancy with nothing else in our preps we must do it with water.

In best Darth Vader voice- "Impressive.... most impressive..."

I would add to this multiple wells, a gray water system- I don't recall seeing that mentioned ever on the show, a stand alone 2" or better pipe system from a year round pond or creek for irrigation and a backup firefighting system.

Have yet to see a well or pump apparatus wherein BALLISTIC PROTECTION was added in some how. Seen a helluva lot of cooldaddy shelters but not a single one with a water SOURCE inside the shelter complex- i.e, a shelter system built around a hand pump well, etc.

How many of these "backup" water supplies i.e, STORAGE offer any kind of water PRESSURE? That elevated tank is going to look like a mighty good idea after carrying water inside or having the water but no pressure for any period of time. That small 12 volt RV "on demand" water pump, the 2 Trojan T105 batteries, 40 watt panel and charge controller will be one of those "coulda, woulda, shoulda" deals when water pressure is needed for various tasks.

[justanothergunnut]

yeah props on the gray water system.. Way to much usable irrigation water just sent to the septic. This would be VERY important if more "guests" arrive at the retreat. Just the increase in legitimate stuff to the septic could be a issue not to mention all the extra gray water you could pull off for other uses..

[1Admin]

And in the same token it could possibly add a little to the irrigation for fruit trees, etc.

A plan for some water pressure if needed for crop irrigation and watering animals. I'm going to switch out the 5 gallon bucket we've been using for an automatic waterer for our rabbits to a 35 gallon tank here before too long. Gives us a few more days on it if need be. That little building has some rain catchment also, could use it to refill the tank for the rabbits or it's right near one of the garden sections and could be used for that.

I'm gonna get a lot more serious on the rain catchment and see about making at least the option of using the washing machine water out as grey water.

This is all a lot of stuff, someone should probably get a 25 instead of a 20 LOL

[protus]

Washing machine wouldn't be hard. We've talked about that idea at Casa de protus. Only issue is distance to garden area unless I purpose build a tank for it. Chicken watering system is what I need to do. My gravity feed idea didn't pan out...but I've git an idea I'm milling over.just involves piping directly to the water source by the pen.

Right now I'm water poor. I keep about 10-14 days for three on hand at all times.but have 4 means of filtration.its been on both our minds the last few good rain storms on trying to harness that h2o. Only other grey water source is the h2o from our dehumidifier ...I've got about 13 gallons so far that we use in the smaller planters etc.

Money and time....wife wants a tank with pump.....I gotta scour the web for a local source. I could easily fit a 250 or larger where I'm at.

[justanothergunnut]

Im sure everybody has watched the video already but if not ..SP1 has a video where he explains how he did the grading on the show doomsday preppers. Link provided below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33Y4bc-21ZU