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--- water:start [2023/07/06 18:10]
frater_secessus [non-potable water] moving quote
+++ water:start [2023/08/07 11:27] (current)
mahkato initial re-organization
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ====== Water ======
-Water is critical for life, especially in hot/dry areas like deserts.
+Water sourcing and management is an important aspect of life on the road, since there are obviously no pipes bringing water in and out of your home on wheels. You will need to learn how to get water, how to store water, how to make sure it is clean and safe for your uses, and how to dispose of dirty water and sewage.
+===== Water needs =====
 Vandwellers living minimally (no showers or slip-n-slides) will typically require 1 gallon of potable water every day for [[water:drinking|drinking]], and 1 additional gallon for cleaning, [[hygiene:bathing|hygiene]], [[food:cooking|cooking]], etc.
-Cleaning water to be suitable for use has two components; **filtration** and **purification**. //Filtration// means removing particulate matter such as mud, sand, large plant cells such as algae and phytoplankton.  //Purification// means removing or killing the germs and bacteria that can make you sick.  Many methods will do both, but not all.
+Your needs will vary based on the ways you use water. The amount of water you need to store onboard will also vary based on how often you can resupply.
-Not all water needs to be both filtered and purified. Some natural water from fast-flowing streams or springs may have very little particulate matter in it and be very clear already, and will only need purification if you're going to drink or cook with it.
+===== Water quality =====
-As a general rule, //filtered// water is fine for showering or cleaning with.  //Purified// water is needed for drinking and cooking.
+**[[water:drinking|Fresh water]]** is water that has virtually no visible dirt and contaminates. It is sufficient for cleaning and bathing, but it may or may not be safe to drink. There may be microscopic contaminates.
-Not all water can be made safe for use; it is //not// practical to purify water that is chemically or mineralogically tainted.
+  * "Potable" or [[water:drinking|Drinking water]] water is a subset of fresh water. It is clean and safe enough for human consumption. Municipal water supplies and water kiosks generally fall into this category, and commercially bottled water will always fall into this category.
-See this [[https://www.nps.gov/articles/2wayspurifywater.htm|guide from the National Park Service]] about how to treat water.  Also see [[https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/water-treatment-backcountry.html|REI's guide that wants to sell you stuff]] (But is still useful).
+  * "Non-potable" water is a subset of fresh water. It is not (or is not known) to be clean and safe enough for human consumption. Depending on the type and level of contaminates, it may be used for cooking, cleaning, or hygiene. [[water:cooking|Water for cooking]] has lower requirements for biological purity because the water is usually boiled during preparation. Water used for [[water:cleaning|cleaning]] or [[hygiene:bathing|external hygiene]] may be of even lower quality assuming one is careful not to ingest the water, or get it in open sores or mucous membranes.
-===== conservation =====
+**Wastewater** is water that has been contaminated during use.
-It is far easier to //use less water// than to haul, store, and dispose of gray water.  Each subpage will have a conservation section.
+  * **[[water:gray|Gray water]]** is water that has been used for things like cleaning, bathing, dishwashing, or cooking. It has visible contaminates such as soap residue, dirt, or small food particles.
+  * **[[water:black|Black water]]** is water that contains human waste or other hazardous material.
+===== Obtaining fresh water =====
-===== potable water =====
+See [[water:drinking|Fresh water]].
-Potable water is water that is know-safe for human consumption.  Municipal water supplies and water kiosks generally fall into this category.
+===== Conserving water =====
-If the water is non-potable (see below) or not known to be potable, you might [[water:purification|purify it]] or use it for non-consumption purposes.
+It is far easier to //use less water// than to haul, store, and dispose of gray water.  Each subpage will have a conservation section.
-===== non-potable water =====
+===== Improving water quality =====
-[[water:cooking|Water for cooking]] has lower requirements for biological purity because the water is usually boiled during preparation (see above).
-Water used for [[water:cleaning|cleaning]] or [[hygiene:bathing|external hygiene]] may be of even lower quality assuming one is careful not to ingest the water, or get it in open sores or mucous membranes.
+Sometimes it will be easier to obtain lower quality water and then improve it as required for your uses. For example, non-potable fresh water can be made potable through filtration and purification.
-===== wastewater =====
+**Filtration** means removing particulate matter such as mud, sand, large plant cells such as algae and phytoplankton. It does not remove very small particles that can make you sick.
-Washwater (non-sewage waste water) is usually stored in a [[water:gray|gray tank]] for later handling.
+**Purification** means removing or killing the germs, bacteria, and other contaminates that can make you sick.
+Not all water needs to be both filtered and purified. Some natural water from fast-flowing streams or springs may have very little particulate matter in it and be very clear already, and will only need purification if you're going to drink or cook with it.
+As a general rule, //filtered// water is fine for showering or cleaning with.  //Purified// water is needed for drinking and cooking.
+Not all water can be made safe for use; it is //not// practical to purify water that is chemically or mineralogically tainted.
+Gray water cannot generally be improved enough for reuse as non-potable water, but systems are available for certain uses, like a "recirculating shower" which filters and cleans used shower water for reuse. Black water cannot be treated (except by a commercial sewage treatment plant) and must be disposed of.
+See this [[https://www.nps.gov/articles/2wayspurifywater.htm|guide from the National Park Service]] about how to treat water.  Also see [[https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/water-treatment-backcountry.html|REI's guide that wants to sell you stuff]] (But is still useful).
+===== Disposing of wastewater =====
+See [[water:gray|Gray water]] and [[water:black|Black water]].

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