squeaky clean

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Folks who strike out into the wilderness where running water is unknown quickly discover that every cupful must be put to many tasks before its final return to nature. Under such conditions, just keeping clean becomes a problem and a simple shower can be the height of luxury.

With our own water supply hauled in from seven miles away, we had to figure a way to make every drop work double. That's the idea behind our homemade shower: The design we worked out gives us a satisfying wash from less than three gallons and also catches those three gallons to be recycled for other important jobs.

The basic equipment is as inexpensive (or even cost-free) as your scrounging can make it. You'll need the following:

1 pail, without holes, approximately 16 quarts (often found at dumps)
1 piece of half-inch pipe, about four inches long, threaded on both ends
2 half-inch electrical conduit nuts
2 hose washers
1 adapter with two threaded male ends
1 half-inch valve (we used a gate valve, but any other type will do)
1 watering can or hose sprinkler head
1 small pulley wheel
1 wall hook
1 12-foot length of rope or clothesline
2 tenpenny nails
1 tub or something similar to catch the water

In the middle of the pail's bottom, make a hole large enough to take the half-inch pipe. Place one of the electrical conduit nuts on one end of the pipe, add a hose washer next to it and insert the pipe into the hole in the bucket so that the fittings are close to the container. The second hose washer goes on the short end inside the pail, followed by the second electrical conduit nut, which is then cinched down against the washer to form a tight seal.

Next, screw one end of the valve onto the lower end of the pipe and insert the adapter firmly into the other opening. Attach the shower head to the free end of the adapter.