The most famous lines from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The
Rime of the Ancient Mariner are these:
Water, water, everywhere,
Nor any drop to drink.
The Mariner and his ship's crew are stuck in the ocean in a dead
calm. There's no wind to move the ship, and they've run out of water.
Every man is parched and delirious from thirst.
Imagine being in that situation. Imagine the frustration of seeing
acres upon acres of water all around you -- and yet not being able to
drink a drop of it.
Fiction or Reality?
While Coleridge's poetic vision may seem far-fetched in today's
world, it could be closer to reality than you may think. Look no further
than the aftermath of the earthquakes that struck the seaside city of
Christchurch, New Zealand last year. Public water treatment systems were
destroyed. Fresh clean drinking water was extremely difficult to get.
For some perspective, consider this: The second major earthquake to
hit Christchurch happened on February 22, 2011. Water supply was
restored to about 70% of households within 7 days. But one resident
reported that her water was finally restored "just before April Fool's
Day."
This means she and her family were without running water for more
than 5 weeks -- about 35 days. And even though their water supply was
restored, they had to use it sparingly because the water system was
still very fragile. High water demand or even a small aftershock would
have easily shut down the water mains again.
How did the citizens get clean drinking water immediately after the
quake? Most were dependent on whatever the government and aid workers
could supply. Dairy tankers normally used to haul milk were used to haul
clean water instead. And because the water treatment systems were shut
down, more than 7,000 portable toilets were brought in and orders placed
for 20,000 more.
And yet in spite of the herculean efforts to supply the citizens with
water and fix the water supply and sewage systems, people still
went without running water for weeks. In fact, raw sewage made its way
into the ocean, polluting the waters, and sending nearly all the surfers
and beach-goers packing.
While the situation in New Zealand may seem far away and remote, we
actually don't have to look overseas to find examples of severe
shortages of clean drinking water. Take Iowa, for example.
500-Year Flood Hits the Midwest
In 2008, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, experienced a 500-year flood. On June
13, the Cedar River crested at 31.3 feet above flood stage. Roughly
5,900 homes were flooded and 10,000 residents were displaced.
All but one of the city's 48 alluvial-aquifer wells were flooded with
polluted river water. Only through a massive sandbagging effort was the
last well kept pumping. Water usage restrictions were imposed. Bathing
and laundry were banned for five days.
Meanwhile, the waste water plant was closed and sealed. The entire
city was without sewer service. Flushing the toilet sent raw waste into
the Cedar River or out into the streets. The waste water plant was out
of service for a total of 73 days. When service was finally restored, it
was only at partial capacity.
Think about it... How different is Coleridge's poetic vision from the
dire flood situation the citizens of Iowa experienced? With flood waters
at record levels, there was water everywhere -- but
none of it was fit to drink. Many thirsty and stranded people were
at the mercy of the government, which is a position you never
want to be in.
Do You Have a Clean Water Back-up Plan?
As major floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes become more frequent and
more destructive, it's critical to have a clean water back-up plan. How
will you get clean drinking water if a major natural disaster knocks out
the water mains?
You can live for weeks without food. But go just 2-3 days without
water and you will be at risk of dying from dehydration. Even one
day without water can severely impair your body's ability to function.
Getting clean water even a few hours sooner could make a huge difference
in your ability to survive.
Of course, you can store water in bottles or containers inside your
home. And this is a good precaution to take. But water is heavy and
difficult to transport. If you are forced to evacuate or leave your
home, your stored water won't do you much good.
Furthermore, stored water is often consumed much faster than you
expect. The average adult needs to drink about 2 liters of water a day
to stay properly hydrated. With two adults and two kids in a household,
you could easily go through 6-7 liters of drinking water... per day.
This is why I believe you should have a high-quality portable water
filter. Such a filter will provide you with clean drinking water even in
the most dire of circumstances.
The one I recommend is called the
the Paratroopers Water Filter. It is a super-compact portable water
filter that paratroopers carry with them and use in some of the
harshest, most extreme environments on earth. This little water filter
is so compact, it can fit easily into a coat pocket. And yet it can pump
a full liter of clean drinking water in only 3 minutes.
Although
the Paratroopers Water Filter is super-compact and sturdy, its best
feature is its ability to filter out 100% of harmful water-borne
bacteria, including E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus,
Salmonella typhi, Vibrio cholerae, and Legionella
pneumophila. These bacteria are often found in lakes, rivers, and
streams. Even if the water looks crystal clear, these bacteria may be
present.
But you can rest easy because the Paratroopers Water Filter gets rid
of all harmful bacteria. In fact, an independent lab proved that it is
just as effective at filtering out water-borne contaminants as larger,
more expensive filters.
The Paratroopers Water Filter is ideal for any situation where you
might need the ability to produce clean drinking water. Keep one at home
for emergency situations. And keep one in your glove box or in your "bug
out bag" in case you have to leave in a hurry. That way, you won't have
to worry that you didn't bring or store enough water -- you'll be able
to produce more clean water whenever you want -- even if the only water
you have access to is murky and riddled with pollutants.
Click here to learn more about the Paratroopers Water Filter and get one
for yourself.
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