Water

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WARM WATER The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating. For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal. COLD WATER Never drink a glass of very cold icy water when you are extremely hot. It is too much of a shock to your system. ********************************************************************************************************************************* Rotate water every six months. Having an ample supply of clean water is a top priority in an emergency. A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers and ill people will need even more. You will also need water for food preparation and hygiene. Store a total of at least one gallon per person per day. You should store at least a three day supply of water for each member of your family. If supplies run low, DO NOT ration water. Drink the amount you need today and try to find more tomorrow. You can minimize the amount of water your body needs by reducing activity and staying cool. THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT WATER STORAGE Storage - cool dark, dry place Containers - non porous (reusing soda bottles are great, however, reusing milk containers is not a good idea because they are porous and will eventually leak. See the section on storage containers for more information. Purification tablets - easy way to purify your water in question. Remember to mark the date on the bottle to know when they expire. Purification - see section on purification for more information Learn how to find good water in the wilderness Collecting dew and rain water - use a plastic tarp, plastic shower curtain, plastic bag, etc. and place it in a small dug out Drinking and cooking - store enough water for both Washing - storing water is not just for drinking and cooking but for washing also Flushing - depending on your sanitation device, you may want to store extra water for this. Water storage containers may include: 5 gallon heavy duty plastic container with spigot 6 gallon heavy duty polyethylene plastic barrel or drum with siphon pump and wrench to remove the cap. Drums are available in various sizes from 5 - 55 gallons. 2 liter plastic soda pop containers with screw on lids 1 gallon size glass jugs (pad with newspaper to protect from breaking) water can be “canned” with canning lids - process for 20 minutes bleach bottles are NOT recommended 1 gallon milk containers are biodegradable and thus are NOT suited for long term water storage short term emergency water containers include a trash bag which has been placed in a pillow case or burlap sack, a bathtub or a trench dug in the ground and lined with plastic. hot water heaters - turn off the power source before draining soft water tanks toilet tanks (NOT bowls), provided no chemical purifiers or disinfectants have been added waterbeds - use for non food purposes vinyl plastic waterbeds and bleach containers are NOT intended for long term water storage for drinking. They may leach undesirable chemicals into stored water liquid in canned fruits and vegetables melted ice cubes and melted snow solar collectors solar stills - see the boy scout manual rainwater collected lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks, ditches and wells (might need purification) fill containers to the top so there is no airspace and store in a cook, dark location away from petroleum and insecticide products, away from strong odor food or perfumed products and away from direct contact with concrete. Ways of Purification filtering through layers of clean linen, nylon or cheesecloth boiling water for 10-15 minutes (safe method) add 2 - 4 drops of bleach per quart of water - let stand 30 minutes (bleach must have 4 - 6 % sodium hypochlorite solution (see bleach caution section) 2% tincture of iodine (3 - 6 drops per quart of water) iodine water purification tablets (unopened shelf life is 3 - 5 years) follow direction on bottle halazone water purification tablets (unopened shelf life is 2 years) follow direction on bottle Caution before adding bleach to your water: The oxidizing agent in liquid bleach reacts with iron and forms rust, so check the mineral content of your water before using liquid bleach to purify it. To determine if the water does contain iron, add one teaspoon of liquid bleach to half glass of hot water. Let the solution stand for a few minutes. If the water does NOT turn brown or yellow, you CAN use liquid bleach. WATER or COKE? WATER Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day? 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. Likely applies to half the world population. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3% One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study. Lack of water, the #1 trigger for daytime fatigue. Preliminary research indicates that 8 - 10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one in 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. COKE In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days To clean a toilet: pour a can of coca cola into the toiletry bowl and let the “real thing” stay in the bowl for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in coke removes stains from vitreous china. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: rub the bumper with a rumpled up piece of aluminum foil dipped in coca-cola. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: pour a can of coca cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion. To loosen a rusted bolt: apply a cloth soaked in coca cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes. To bake a moist ham: empty a can of coca cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the coke for a sumptuous brown gravy. To remove grease from clothes: empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The coca cola will help loosen grease stains. Rub coca cola on your windshield to clean off road haze. For your information The active ingredient in coca cola is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis. To carry coca cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous Material place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!! (Information from Linda Hallman) WATER TIPS that may prevent WATER DAMAGE From broken and frozen pipes to leaking appliances, water damage can wreak havoc, destroying floors, walls, furniture and family heirlooms. The devastation is not limited to the laundry and the bathroom. Leaking roofs and backed-up sewers or drains can ruin bedrooms, family rooms and storage areas. Here are a few tips for preventing water damage to your property: Check and replace washing machine hoses regularly. Inspect the area under sinks, around fixtures and near appliances for signs of water leaks. Wet spots may indicate the water supply line is leaking. Check ceilings and walls for evidence of roof leaks. Make sure hose connections are secure on water supply lines to washing machines, icemakers, garbage disposals, dishwashers and other appliances that use water. Re-caulk and grout around sinks, showers and tubs Inspect the roof regularly and remove debris.