Surviving on One Gallon of Water: Debunking the Myth

Introduction

When it comes to emergency preparedness, one common suggestion that often circulates is to store one gallon of water per person per day. But is this recommendation accurate? In this blog post, I will explore the reality of surviving on just one gallon of water for one day as I test this theory for myself.

The Water Challenge: A Day with One Gallon

To truly grasp the impact of relying on a single gallon of water, I decided to document my experience surviving on this limited supply. Throughout the day, I focused on conserving water while still addressing essential needs like hydration, hygiene, and cooking.

To be clear, I conserved water in every other aspect except drinking. I will never advocate people conserve their drinking water. You need to drink water. You need to stay hydrated. Even half a day without water can have drastic affects on your body and mind.

Morning Routine: Coffee and Conservation

Starting my day with a large cup of coffee, I realized that even this simple act would consume a significant amount of water. As I poured the remaining coffee back into the gallon container, it became clear that conserving water would be crucial.

Hygiene: Balancing Water Usage

When it came to hygiene, I had to make conscious decisions on how to use the limited water supply efficiently. While washing my hands, I followed a tried-and-true method used during my time at a dry cabin—using minimal water, soap, and a thorough rinse. I also considered alternatives like soapless water and hand sanitizer for various tasks, keeping in mind that for certain activities like using the restroom, water was necessary.

Midday: Refilling and Conservation

By midday, I had already emptied my drinking water and needed to refill it. As I refilled it, I observed the significant amount of water it took to replenish the container fully. Bringing home the reality that drinking water should never be compromised, but realizing that drinking water alone was taking up the gallon of water.

Evening: Cooking and Adaptation

As dinner time approached, I aimed to reduce water usage while cooking. By using canned chicken stock to cook my meal, I managed to save some water. However, I reached a point where my gallon was nearly empty, and I had to decide whether to open another container and exceed the recommended daily amount.

Conclusion: The Reality of Water Consumption

Through this experiment, I gained valuable insights into the challenges of relying on just one gallon of water per day. It became apparent that the suggested amount is not sufficient to meet all our needs, especially when considering factors like cooking, hygiene, cleaning, and other essential uses. While it is crucial to conserve water in various ways, drinking water should always be prioritized and never rationed.

There are alternatives to some of these activities, such as collecting rainwater, using waterless soap, using hand sanitizer on occasion instead of always washing hands, using minimal water to brush teeth, using canned chicken stock to cook rice and pasta with (or making meals that don’t require water like sandwiches), and using very minimal soap to wash dishes.

Speaking of dishes, in a crisis, I recommend keeping a good stockpile of paper plates and plastic utensils. Plastic utensils can be wiped and re-used several times, even paper plates, if they weren’t dirtied too bad, can be reused. The great part about paper plates is they can also be burned in an outdoor fire pit.

Of course, it’s always good to have a solid stockpile of bottled water. Check out my posts about water preparedness.

Let’s not forget that this experiment took place in a controlled temperature environment. If you were exerting extra energy, pregnant or breastfeeding, if it was the hottest months of the year or anything else that would require you to drink extra water, then the one gallon a day would absolutely not be enough.

This eye-opening experience served as a reminder to consider our water consumption carefully and to be better prepared for potential emergencies.

One gallon a day is not enough to survive on.