Water about to be shut off. Household of 14 over Christmas.

[HelloVeritas]

Send prayers. Southern Water warning we could be without water later today and over Christmas due to burst water main.

We are hosting a large multi generational household this year of very excited family but I need help to plan ahead from the Mumsnet preppers.

I'm up now peeling all the Christmas veg while we do still have water.

Plan so far is:

1. everyone have a poo
2. use the pond for water supply to flush loos
3. drink champagne to remain hydrated
4. shave legs now while still possible

I feel that there must be more to it then that, what have I missed? 🤣

I think your priorities are good, might add go buy in a lot of bottled water!!

ps dh wouldn’t buy bottled water yesterday even though we’ve been cut off two out of the last five Christmases and luckily had some 5l bottles filled as a few other places had gone first!

Have they advised you where they are setting up bottled water stations?

Borrow some of those huge water containers you use for camping and fill them up?

I'd actually arrange to take it all to someone else's house and do it there.

That’s a good plan. You could finesse it by filling bath or buckets now for things like hand-washing, where pond water might not be best, and sending someone to any nearby shop for bottled water, hand sanitiser and wet wipes.

I liked #4 especially 😝 but also each could bring a gallon (few liters?) of water with them?

Hand gel, wet wipes and fill every receptacle with water.

Honestly, I’d think about having it somewhere else- 14 people no loo/hand-washing 🤢

You’ll have to buy gallons of water so everyone can wash their hands after the loo and to flush the loo. Also for hot drinks and drinking water?

This could be quite a nasty hygiene problem. Do you have glass charm things so people can tell which is their champagne flute and not accidentally drink from another?

they Should be providing bottled water, no need to buy it.

Can you all decamp to someone else's house instead?

If I were you, I'd be wrapping up now to go to a supermaket and buy lots of bottled water ASAP - you won't be alone in that queue!

No adjustment to that plan. I admire your quick thinking and attention to important details. I mean who wants the dreaded insane itch from dry shaving on Christmas Day?!

3 - drink champagne to remain hydrated

😆🤣😆

But also...how many toilets do you have? This could get tricky.

As much as I love your list I would be looking at moving to an alternative location can someone else host with everything you have prepared?

We had this were advised to fill up any glasses/bottles with water from the tap before supply stopped 😅

Is there any way you could go elsewhere? Having recently been without water for a few days, I was shocked at how much water we needed! If you can't relocate:

• Fill the bath and all containers you have with water for flushing now.
• Get some posh paper plates (they hold gravy better), foil cooking trays, paper cups and wooden cutlery, so you can reduce washing up.
• Get paper napkins and table cloth, so no laundry after.
• Get a water dispenser if possible, so people can wash their hands more easily.
• Buy a load of water bottles now.

You might have solved a mystery. Just found 6 x 1litre bottles of water on ourdoorstep. I wonder if our water is going to be switched off ?
We have a Well for our water so won't be affected but I'll give it to our neighbour who told us going onto mains water was a "no brainer"

And hand sanitisers!

Fill the bath so you have a reservoir. Keep a plastic jug next to the bath so people can scoop out clean water for washing/flushing. Make sure no one takes a dip/washes hands in the reservoir!

If you have a spray bottle (like the ones to mist plants etc) they can be surprisingly effective at using very little water to wash your face/hands etc.

But I agree with whoever it was who said it sounds like hygiene hell in the making.

Fill the bath for water to flush.
Everyone who is yet to arrive needs to bring a 6 pack of mineral water.
Hand sanitizer in every bathroom plus kitchen.
Paper plates, disposable cutlery, foil oven dishes so the washing up doesn’t pile up.

Honestly can’t understand why you aren’t ringing these guests and telling them they can’t come, and ps would they mind if you rocked up with your kids to stay at theirs instead?

Manageable with preparation on a normal day for a regular household - sounds like hell for so many people over Christmas!!

Op i think you really should reconsider hosting that many people with no water. The toilet situation will be disgusting.

I know my family it wouldn't take much to take dinner and cook in a different house.

All the above plus check on your elderly/ vulnerable neighbours.