The Last Container

On the second morning of their camping trip, Ana noticed that the group’s water container was almost empty. The stream beside the campsite looked clear, but a sign warned campers not to drink untreated water. Oliver had assumed the stream would be safe. Ari, who had read the campsite information, explained that clear water could still contain tiny germs that make people ill. The nearest tap was a long walk away. The group needed water for drinking, cooking and washing. Their leader, Wiremu, had planned for one full container each day, but a warmer-than-expected afternoon had changed their plans. The campers had used extra water to rinse muddy boots and wash dishes under a running tap at the shelter. Instead of arguing, the group made a plan. Oliver and Ana walked to the tap with the empty container. Ari checked the campsite notice and found instructions for boiling stream water if they ever needed an emergency supply. Back at camp, Wiremu showed everyone how to wash dishes in a basin rather than under running water. They tipped the used washing water onto a patch of gravel well away from the stream, so food scraps and soap would not flow into it. That evening, the campers measured out water for breakfast and filled their drinking bottles. They also agreed to use only what they needed for washing. The stream had not become a drinking tap just because it looked clean, and the group understood that their choices could affect other campers and the living things that depended on the water. When they packed up the next day, they left the campsite tidy and the stream as clean as they had found it.