Now that you have your:
- MOWAPS- Mobile Water Purification System
- CCP- Consumption Contingency Plan
- STWS- Short-Term Water Storage <90 Days
- LTWS- Long-Term Water Storage > Days,
We are ready to lightly cover creating your Access Contingency Plan (ACP). This differs from the CCP because although the CCP does consider potential sources from which you'll draw accessible amounts of water, the CCP emphasizes consumption quantities. The ACP is specifically designed for considering all sources of water and utilizing that plan when the time is right. This post will lightly cover principles of your ACP rather than minutiae because there are obviously too many variables which will need to be adapted to every situation and circumstance. Besides, I want you to use your thinking noodle!
Your ACP can be created before any of your water preparations. It is my experience that the ACP is much more easily created and thought-through over a period of time, rather than one static moment in time. It can be challenging to create your ACP, nonetheless rewarding. I recommend beginning your ACP outline as you begin with your MOWAPS. Trust me, the more you think critically about your water and its importance, things will jump out at you that others simply have not thought of, or they take for granted. Simple things.
Here are the important points of your ACP creation:
- Your standard for the ACP should be drinking (potable) water.
- Always include your MOWAPS as part of your ACP.
- Your STWS/LTWS are your primary sources of water until you reach a critical point in the remaining amounts of water in your water storage…(if you'd like to know more about this aspect please let me know in the comments below).
- Your network of Like-Minded & Trusted Associates (LMTA) is a necessary component for your ACP.
- Items/Skills-for-Trade (I/SFT) are also necessary components for your ACP.
Your standard for the ACP should be drinking (potable) water.
This point might seem obvious, but during times of crises and chaos our rational thinking turns off and our sympathetic response kicks in: fight or flight. When it comes time for you to execute your ACP, if your established sources of water include potable water, then no additional energies or efforts will have to be spent on improving the level of water to make it potable, and risks associated with contaminated water will be minimal at least.
On the other hand, if your ACP targets water sources that are known to require treatment & added energy with resources, your plans and provisions will be much more involved and detailed. The whole point of preparedness is to mitigate risk and maintain homeostasis (balance) with minimal effort/energy expense.
The Sport Berkey water bottle gives you purified water where/when you need it.
Always include your MOWAPS as part of your ACP.
The emphasis of always including your MOWAPS as part of your ACP is because less-than-desirable water may be your only water source in a worst-case scenario. I'd recommend the Sport Berkey as the most versatile personal MOWAPS because it works! Even if you are using your STWS/LTWS, you will still want to remove/reduce the chemicals that were used to preserve the water for storage, and the Berkey products do just that. But whatever your MOWAPS is, be sure that it can remove/reduce the chemicals from treated water.
Your STWS/LTWS are your primary sources of water until you reach a critical point in the remaining amounts of water in your water storage.
Your safest and most reliable source of water will be from your Short-Term/Long-Term Water Storage. You can be confident about the quality of the water you have personally attended. Water that is coming from control or management outside of your direct supervision is supplemental and only supplemental to your water storage. It might prove tempting to approach a public reservoir that might be an open-air reservoir, but I strongly advise against it, primarily because there are trespassing laws & security practices set in place that discourage access. Creeks, lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams which are easily accessible to your property are secondary water sources that I would prioritize for your use. Such sources would supplement your primary quantities nicely.
You'll want to include in your ACP, a provision for a critical point at which you will begin to replenish your water storage. Replenishing will ensure adequate hydration-levels and all uses of your drinking-water storage.
Your network of Like-Minded & Trusted Associates (LMTA) is a necessary component for your ACP.
The idea that anyone can survive independently is one of the biggest mistakes within circles of self-reliant communities. Whether in good times or not so good times, our quality of life is directly proportional to the quality of relationships that we enjoy. Beyond having family and friends that you can trust for help, networks of like-minded folks will meet areas of strength where yours is weak.
Items/Skills-for-Trade (I/SFT) are also necessary components for your ACP.
Items and skills for trade suggests the idea that in the event that you have no access to your own water supply, at least having items and skills of value, will allow you to barter items/skills that you will need such as water. It also allows you to grow in previously undiscovered areas of talent and interest. As you discover and develop a skill, you will eventually be able to build a network of contacts who share the same interest and varying skill levels. This will also position you to leverage such skills to instruct others and help them on their way to stronger self-reliance.
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-The Berkey Guy
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