When the going gets tough, the well-prepared can keep going!

Sooner or later, we were going to have to talk about plumbing. Among the great advances that came out of the Industrial Revolution was the development of sanitary sewers and indoor plumbing. We take it all for granted now, of course, but things have not always been the way they are today. Among the inventors who made life better for us who came after him was the celebrated Thomas Crapper. Now there were others who worked on the development of the water closet, or loo, and its sturdy fixtures, but Crapper was actually in the ceramics business and thought to put his name on his own monument to a better world.

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In the old days, one would literally go to use the “Crapper.” You can imagine how we created other words to fit the genre. It was a brilliant device. First of all, it was inside. He should have gotten a medal just for that. It had a water supply, usually in an elevated tank, connected by a pipe to the bowl below. When the time came, the user could pull a handle, draining a surge of water down into the bowl to flush away the unpleasantness. A trap below the bowl held water and kept the sewer gases from coming into the little room. Crapper and his wonder came along before electricity, and therein lies the key to today’s story. The water arrives in the tank by various means, but to flush the toilet, even unto this day, a handle raises a stopper, allowing water to flow from the tank into the bowl and down into the drain line by gravity. Unlike the tank in the toilet in the Louis restaurant in The Godfather, these days the tank sits perched on the back of the bowl while you sit on the front. The water still arrives in the tank by various means: municipal water company lines, well pumps with pressure tanks, etc. For most people, the water is potable, that is, it’s the same water that comes out of your faucet in the sink. But here’s the clever part: it doesn’t have to be potable. It can come from most anywhere because we don’t normally drink water out of the toilet unless we’re Uncle Billy’s dogs. And if we did need to drink that water, we would, of course drink it out of the tank, not the bowl. Dogs don’t seem to have figured that one out yet. And they’re supposed to be so smart! Set the lid off the tank of your own derivative of the Crapper and gaze down into the water at the mechanics of modern civilization. The handle connects to a lever, the lever to a chain or strap, and the chain to the flapper. Push down the handle, the lever comes up, the flapper lifts off its seat, and water flows down into the bowl from the upper edges, mind you, making everything clear and sweet again. Water sits in the bottom of the bowl above the trap, keeping out the gases, just as in good old Crapper’s day.

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Storing Water for Sanitation, Drinking

There are two ways to flush, both using gravity. If for any reason you have no water coming into the tank via the valve, then a flush will mostly empty the tank. Now what? You can simply take over the job of the fill valve. Carefully pour water from a bucket into the tank until it reaches the usual fill level, marked by a water stain on the sides. When you push down on the handle the water will flow down into the bowl as if it had been filled the old way. When the flush is over, the tank will need to be refilled. The second way to flush is to pour water from the bucket directly into the bowl. When enough water has been added, the weight of the water will overcome the ups and downs of the trap and drain itself down into the drain line. At that point, enough water will be left in the bottom to block gasses. To flush again, pour water into the tank or into the bowl. It’s pleasanter to put the water in the tank and push the handle, but more importantly, it will usually use less water. If you’re carrying the water from the creek, you’ll take this very seriously. So the overall lesson today is to urge everyone to store water to feed your Crapper. Drinking water is vital, and storing water for other needs is plain smart.

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Civilization requires toilets, and toilets require water

Storing drinking water is always a good idea. Most of us think ahead these days and have a few bottles or, better yet, a few gallons of it on hand at all times. That supply should be rotated and never fall below two or three gallons. If there is ample storage space such as a basement or heated garage, water may easily be stored in large containers such as carboys or large water cans. A few gallons of drinking water can go a long way to preserve life in a dire emergency, if rationed carefully. But a few gallons of drinking water, if that’s all you have, will not prolong the veneer of civilization very long. Civilization requires toilets, and toilets require water. I know, I know. You can go out to the privy, shut the door, and wave your fanny in the crisp air if you choose, but that’s what we call primitive society. If you’re in a household with both sexes, just take an informal survey asking the womenfolk where they’d rather be when nature calls, out in the privy or inside on a Thomas Crapper clone. Or skip the survey and just ask yourself. Duh. We all know the answer to that one. The idea of storing water to feed the Crapper should be growing on you by now. In my neighborhood along the 40th parallel, water can be stored outside approximately 8 months out of the year. I have plastic barrels with lids to catch rain water along with a small pipe system to fill all the containers before letting the excess drain away. Put a pitcher pump or a barrel pump in the water barrel, and there is plenty of water for plants, gardens, and operating The Wonder in hard times.

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Outside water storage must be covered to prevent mosquito breeding Outside water storage must be covered to prevent mosquito breeding. This is not optional. In the old days when we learned about building the Panama Canal and bringing civilization to back alleys in America, it used to be drummed into us that standing water breeds mosquitoes. It doesn’t take long once the temperature is warm enough. The worst places for this are old tires, old rain barrels, small depressions, tin cans, etc. If you don’t know what mosquito larvae look like, check here. They’re not large, and you’ll see them moving through the water by wiggling. If you see them, destroy them immediately. They’ll be coming for your blood very soon if you don’t. They feast on pets, livestock, and wildlife, too. Outdoor water storage should be discrete. Put your barrel array behind fence panels or well-planned shrubbery. Always direct any excess water away from the foundations of the house. In the winter in cold climates, outdoor storage is a problem because of freezing. Basements are ideal. Fill buckets and barrels down there, and think about how to get the water out of barrels into buckets. For a little perspective, fill a 55 gallon drum with water, then tip it slightly to pour water into a bucket on the ground. Good luck with that. A hand pump or siphon system will be needed to fill buckets to carry to The Wonder. Storage water works in a garage if it doesn’t go below freezing for too long at a stretch. Simple is best. If you have a toilet which requires electricity to operate you are entirely too sophisticated for your own good. If it’s the only kind you have, don’t start whining when the power goes out. Nobody is going to have much sympathy for you. In review, longer emergencies have the potential to try us severely. Maintaining a supply of water for Crapper’s miracle in the aftermath of a storm makes perfect sense every day of the year.

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