The Great Flood of '94

It’s hard to believe it was 20 years ago when we in Middle Georgia suffered The Great Flood of ’94. For most of us in the area, it was a short term inconvenience — with roads and bridges flooded, it was difficult or impossible to get from here to there for a couple or three days. However, for those of us in Macon and Bibb County, who got our water from the Macon Water Authority, it was a two-and-a-half week long nightmare. For some inexplicable reason, the Macon water works was located in the Ocmulgee River flood plain — and flood it did. Hence, no running water for about 17 days, less in some places, more in others.

A water distribution system was quickly established — stop by your local fire station for free gallon bottles of water, suitable for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and flushing toilets. Launderettes in surrounding communities did bumper business. But showering or bathing? You could take a sponge bath, and many people showered at family or friends’ houses outside the stricken area, but it wasn’t the same as being able to take a shower at home….

I decided that I hadn’t gotten my Mechanical Engineering degree (Georgia Tech “78) for nothing; I would design and build my own shower. I needed low flow (I didn’t want to use too much water), low pressure, and low voltage — I didn’t want a shock or electrocution hazard. The key component was a boat bilge pump — designed to be submerged in water, low flow and pressure, and 12 volt dc. I powered it with a 12 volt rechargeable battery that was designed to power “cigarette lighter” accessories that you would normally use in a car. A big plastic bucket served as the water supply, and two sections of flexible bilge pump tubing delivered the water from the submerged pump to the “shower” outlet, which I attached to the normal shower head. Bell wire and a boat horn button, attached adjacent to the outlet, completed the system. Warm water on the stove (but not too hot!), pour in the plastic bucket, push the button when you wanted water, release the button to stop the flow — most excellent! And it also worked well for washing your hair.