Bath time - on saving water

There was this time when drought came upon us. Tap water supply is rationed such that we only have water from 4:00 to 8:00am and from 6:00 to 10:00pm. This poses a big problem in a household with almost a dozen boys sharing one bathroom.

Solution 1: Collect water

Buy large plastic drums (previously used to contain unknown fluids) and store at least 2 drums of water. Fill in the drums when water starts to flow in the morning and at night.

For drinking water, take home as much plastic bottle that you can collect from your day out to store drinking water in. This way, you'll never pass the night thirsty.

Solution 2: Maximize the availability of water

Make it a point to take a bath within the period where there is water. Since most of us leave well before 8:00 in the morning, we bathe between 5:00am and 7:00am. And based on Solution 1, we fill in the drums while we bathe. In the evening, it is advisable that you go home early. Arriving home early allows you to clean-up before the water flow is reduced to trickles.

Use this time to fill in all empty water bottles, do your laundry, and water the plants.

Solution 3: Recycle

Here's the trick! Get an empty pale, straddle it and take a bath collecting water in the pail along the way. You can also wash your undergarments on top of the pale while you're at it. This will allow you to collect used water that will be enough to flush your toilet.

Also, brush your teeth near your garden and sprinkle gurgled water on to the plants. Who knows. your plants may become well protected against cavities. :)

Chain of ideas - resale of public utility

List of resellable public utility items:

1. water meter - got wrench? will steal. water meters are often removed from their attachments for resale by thieves.

2. electric power line - black outs are not that bad. enterprising individuals take this opportunity to steal power cables. with some courage and some luck, they get away without being electrocuted.

3. cable television line - no need for blackouts here.

4. telephone line - copper wires are best sold on a per kilogram/pound basis.

5. electricity - just tap in to somebody's power line or even from the mains. other venture capitalists allow other people to tap in to their power lines and charge them a fixed monthly rate.

6. water - a rubber hose here, a t-connector there, tap into the main water line and voila! free water.

7. telephone - all you will need is a plier, some telephone wires, and a cheap phone unit.

8. cable connection - a more sophisticated connection is needed here. it is called a signal splitter.

NOTE: these are illegal activities and are punishable by law.