We can survive without most things but not without

[Fanie]

We can survive without most things but not without water.  Ok maybe sex too but that's another topic.

I went to a store this morning to refill our drinking water (tap water is undrinkable) and the chap who's place it is is quite keen and helpfull.

I got a box of Rubicon sachets from him, 30 x 3.5g sachets in it, R 70.  Each sachet is capable of cleaning 25 liter of water.  Apart from that it sterilizes (kill all the go-go's) the water it also has a flocculant that will have any solids collect at the bottom of the container, leaving you with safe clean drinkable water.  The process takes around 35 minutes.  This will be very handy when you're away 'somewhere' fishing and no reliable drinking water around.

I have also on order a 12Vdc booster pump part no HS-8367 @ R 750.  The pump looks like a good quality one and can pump water through a filter at the rate of 1.2 liter per minute.  Re the filters, you get different types, and they go so fine that you can even filter sea water through them to get drinkable water out !  There are also larger pumps available, but at 1L per minute it should be fine for drinking.

If you filter sea water through it of course the filter doesn't last as long as it would if you filter fresh water, but it will make one huge difference if no other water is available than sea water.  It also means that you don't have to take along the water tanks to have fresh water - especially if you plan a visit to a foreign destination.

Of course beer is always a good alternative :-D  Just wait till they bring out the pump you put water in and beer comes out ;-)

What I plan to do is to make me a 12Vdc (solar charged battery supply) water filter.  Can even use it at home if the need arise for getting drinking water.

You can also buy a complete box with filters, motor and a 230V power supply included.

While we currently only think in terms of making good water elsewhere, there is no guarantee that we will have drinking water as in always.  If our power goes - and we suspect it can become a reality, then we cannot pump drinking water that will come out of our taps.  Won't hurt to be prepared, and as I said convenient when you go fishing.

Any one interested can order the Rubicon sachets, or parts for - or a complete water filter set from Maartin Vermeulen 078 706 3787.  He said he will post it where ever you are.

 

 

[Mike D]

Progressive thinking Fanie. One day water too will become a luxury item - best I change to soda at this stage for that sundowner!

 

[Fanie]

The Japanese have to wake up every day facing a situation few of them anticipated - the disaster there must still be very unreal.

We do not have those natural diasasters, but we face disasters of a different nature here. I don't think most realise how fragile our own situation is. Pretoria central was without power for five days - other areas here go without power for days on end also. They don't go around advertising it, same as crime, so most are duly unaware.

If another more serious mishap has to occur, like the power generator in eastern Transvaal they disintegrated by overrevving then we are in for a serious experience. Don't forget you need power to pump fuel, water - our whole infrastructure depends on it.

No, they can't put the portable generator up somewhere, where will the fuel come from... scoop it out with buckets ? Right.

Ask the guys in George what it's like if you open a tap and it's dry.

Re power generation, I'm sure most of you heard the gov has taken the money (couple of trillion), decided to keep it, and go into mining for themselves. They think they are going to put up more coal mines to burn the current generators which is insufficient already so we can have power - the whole setup is going to be a disaster - like everything else the gov does.

They can't even do their current work, never mind going onto mining. But hey, most of africa is dirt poor and only the gov has control, it's the only way they know.

 

[Thunder]

Why water, drink more beer!!