Water Question

[Gemboy12]

I am helping with a small event in November. Can someone point me to where I may find information about how much drinking water to supply for 40 +/- folks for 48 hours.

Thank you.


Jim Barringer

[paulcalloway]

Re: Water Question

That's a moving target - a lot of it depends on how hot it is and how much physical exertion is going on. Typically a person needs to drink a couple liters per day ... so technically a gallon per person for the weekend, maybe two.

But there will be other water being used as well - for cooking, cleaning, factor plenty of spillage.

The last thing you want to do is run out of water, so calculate on the high end.

[Gallo de Cielo]

Re: Water Question

Jim,

At Banks' Grand Retreat, we "budgeted" 2 1/2 to 3 gallons of water, per man, per day. This accounted for water needed for drinking as well as cooking rations. Due to the pristene nature of the region as well as a nice "top off" of rain, we were able to use natural water sources (ie creeks) for the bulk of the needed water. However, we had 5 and 6 gallon jerry cans sufficient to water both battalions twice, allowing us to place one set and leap-frog another.

Hope this helps.

[billwatson]

Re: Water Question

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/10-52/ch32.htm

Keep going down past the aircraft washing requirements, eventually there's a chart that should help, potable water needed for field operations, per man, and it's for temperate zones.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Re: Water Question

One of these days Charles and I have to get together to write that article we've long discussed about "How to Provide Water for an Event".

In addition to how MUCH to provide just a few other items to consider are,

* Water quality. In other words, disinfect the tank, hose, pipes, etc. with bleach (sodium hypochlorite) within 24 hours of the event, and then disinfect the water itself with some bleach. The American Water Works Association provides guidelines on how much disinfectant to add and how long it should be in contact with the water and with the tank.
* Water location. Where are you getting it? If it's 20 miles from the site and the tanker has to be refilled, count on it taking HOURS to go out, fill up, and come back.
* Are there limitations on the quantity of water that can be obtained? If it's from "Joe's house" which uses a well, it's quite likely that Joe's well isn't capable of furnishing hundreds of gallson of water per day without going dry. Ooops!
* How do you get the water from the source into the tanker? Hose? Jerry-cans? Levitation? Something else?
* How many men need to get at the water source at once? One spigot = one man capable of filling a canteen. Four spigots off the same tank is four times better.
* Are horses part of the event? If so, factor in their water needs, and also consider providing a 2-inch diameter tap off the tanker to more quickly fill up a horse trough, or else you'll be watching water piss out a 3/4-inch diameter hose bib for some time to fill up a 25-gallon trough.
* Does the water source need to be mobile? Are multiple water sources needed? Where should they be located?
* If the water source need to be mobile, then make provisions to strap the tank securely into the truck. Believe it or not, folks come to events to provide water to reenactors via a 200-gallon ag tanker in a pickup truck bed, and there's no straps to hold the tank into the truck. I've seen that in person.

These and other common sense things should be considered when planning water for an event.