Hands Free Water Station

Here is a simple way to wash your hands with the help of gravity. It works like this. The jug of water is suspended from a tree or something alike. A section of vinyl hose is connected to the spout at one end and on a pivoting arm on the other. When the hose is brought lower then the water level in the jug, gravity forces the water out. When the hose is brought back above that level, the water stops flowing.

Green points of interest: It's refillable. You waste less water compared to having some one pour water on your hands. It's recycles a water bottle.

You’ll need:
Nylon cord
Duct tape
3/8 Vinyl tubing
¼" x 1/8" brass fitting
2.5 gallon water jug
Water bottle
Sand
Epoxy putty
2, 3/4"x 3' Wooden dowels

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Step 1: Make the cradle

Many 2.5 gallon jugs have ribbed sides. These ribs are going to be used to help hold the cord cradle in place.

Take 10’ of cord and tie a knot with the ends so you have a large loop of cord. Form a larks foot at both ends and slip them over the ribs of the jug. To help keep the cord in place you can put duct tape over the ribs.

Attache a hook made from a strong piece of wire onto the handle of the cradle.

da_fisher says: Dec 6, 2011. 2:38 PM

great idea u could also use a water pump and a bucket at the bottem so you dont ever run out of water

de0509 says: Apr 14, 2012. 9:29 PM

thats unhygienic. i wouldnt want to wash my hands with the same water that everyone uses. but still, the idea is feasible. maybe reuse the water for washing very dirty things. i.e. tools, soiled boots(in case you go tropical jungle trekking)

billbillt says: Sep 11, 2011. 9:45 AM

I like this...I view this project as a survival tool for climate change or disaster areas as governments care less about the people...I will keep this simple design in mind for when it will be needed...

Flyinseamnky says: Sep 11, 2011. 11:34 PM

two words. Zombie Apocalypse!

taria says: Oct 13, 2011. 3:04 PM

NO SH****...I so agree...bad thing is no one will ever remember to do this when it happens.. on he will and we will all have to hunt him down cause he rocks.

jiajunwang says: Sep 12, 2011. 5:07 AM

Every last drop of water can be poured out?

105

Mrballeng (author) says: Sep 13, 2011. 12:32 AM

Just as much as if you opened the spout with out the hose on it.

vincent7520 says: Sep 11, 2011. 12:25 PM

Neat.
That's how any instructable should be !…

lucek says: Sep 11, 2011. 11:37 AM

I go camping out on the islands here. So I've already got to bring quite a bit of water just to live. I use saltwater for washing pots and moist wipes for my hands. After all if I'm backpacking with 30lb of water just to live why should I bring another 20lb just to wash up.

macleish says: Sep 11, 2011. 8:27 AM

The fixed jug spigot is a water waster. On the other hand taking all this extra gear into the wild is not necessary. Just take the flex tube and loop it unto a branch higher than the waterline in the suspended jug and you're done. Or snap off a small branch, whittle a taper on the end and stick the free end of the tube on that taper, keep the wind from blowing the tube down and losing all the water.
Again, great idea... just make it simpler, think hassle free implementation.
I catch the waste water with an inverted frisbee, handwashing, shaving is done from it and if it rains out, that water is captured for gray water use.

making_hands says: Sep 11, 2011. 11:10 AM

I would simply like to point out this designed is geared for sterilization technique, not the wilderness survival ( for it would be a waste and impediment) . I think its a fantastic idea and would love to see a homemade design.

I completely agree Macleish on this one. Simplicity is the key to effectiveness.

splazem says: Sep 4, 2011. 7:13 AM

This is awesome!

clax1227 says: Sep 3, 2011. 3:50 AM

You should make a larger more "permanent" version: rope (not cord) for the suspending, an oil drum for the water, a hose in place of the tubing, and a cinder block for a counter weight plus maybe a metal pipe?