disaster prep & water

[Marc <cram3813@uidaho.edu>]

At 08:53 AM 11/19/99 -0800, you wrote:
>At 08:24 AM 11/19/1999 -0800, Marc wrote:
>
>>Don't forget that most hot water heaters hold about 50 gallons.
>>
>>Marc
>In a pinch, that's drinkable.  But I understand it's generally not 
>recommended for consumption, as water heaters have plenty of soldering with 
>heavy metals.  If the water pressure dies, some would have trouble figuring 
>out where to get that water (of course, some people in this day and age 
>don't know where their water heater is).  According to Latah County 
>Disaster Services, water pressure shouldn't be a problem, though.
>
The water heater is part of a potable water supply system.  Unless it is
really old there should be no heavy metals.  The use of lead-bearing
solders and such have been banned for some time now.  After all, this is
the same water that comes out of your tap--hopefully you can drink it.
Also, if someone does not know how to get water from their water heater,
they are somewhat unprepared.  I suspect they will have many other problems
to devote their time to along with a water shortage.

As for pressure, this should not be a problem for a time because the
pressure is a result of the raised water tanks.  Water flows downhill, thus
the pressure.  The pumps to refill them need power, however.  What our
usage time is given no refilling, I don't know.  This time of year it will
be lower because nobody is watering thier lawns or washing thier cars
(except at the carwashes).  But there are backup generators, etc to keep
the towers filled.  (This would be both important for drinking and for fire
hydrant uses.  Hate to have the town burn down because an electrical fire
dropped the power.)

Marc