Purpose: Use this workbook to prepare for, diagnose, bridge, repair and document a sudden loss of the garden's normal water system. It is designed to stand alone when printed.
Time problem first noticed:
Last known normal operation:
Initial symptom:
Draw the source-to-zone path. Mark the water source, meter, main shutoff, backflow device if present, pump/tank, filters, regulators, controllers, valves, hose bibbs, branches and irrigation zones.
| Component | Location | Label present? | Who may operate/service it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source/meter | |||
| Main shutoff | |||
| Backflow device | |||
| Pump/tank | |||
| Main filter | |||
| Pressure regulator/gauge | |||
| Controller | |||
| Major valves/zones |
| Role | Name/organization | Phone | After-hours method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water utility / host property | |||
| Garden coordinator | |||
| Plumber | |||
| Irrigation professional | |||
| Well/pump contractor | |||
| Electrician/facility maintenance | |||
| Cooperative Extension | |||
| Health/food-safety contact if needed |
| Check | Expected | Observed | Pass / Fail / Unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility/host service status | Normal or advisory identified | ||
| Source connection | Water available | ||
| Main shutoff | Correct operating position | ||
| First site spigot/test point | Normal flow | ||
| Filter | Clean/serviceable | ||
| Pressure regulator/gauge | Normal for this system | ||
| Controller/manual valve | Activates intended zone | ||
| Branch/lateral | No leak/kink/blockage | ||
| Representative emitters/endpoints | Normal delivery |
First point where expected performance is lost:
Probable failure category:
☐ Uncontrolled leak isolated if safe.
☐ Slippery/muddy/undermined area closed or flagged.
☐ Wet electrical/pump equipment left for qualified personnel.
☐ Repeated automatic cycles disabled during diagnosis.
☐ Members told which water systems are unavailable.
☐ Safe drinking water for volunteers remains available.
☐ Handwashing/harvest-tool/food-contact water requirements reviewed.
Activities paused because safe water is unavailable:
Check soil and crop stage. Do not rank by habit or by who asks first.
| Bed/plot | Crop/stage | Soil moisture observation | Container/new transplant/critical stage? | Priority | Next check time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crops we will deliberately harvest/close rather than rescue:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Source name/location | |
| Public supply / well / transported / cistern / rainwater / surface water / other | |
| Who owns/controls it? | |
| Permission documented? | |
| Current advisory or contamination concern? | |
| Testing/quality information available? | |
| How is water stored? | |
| Container previous contents known? | |
| How will water reach the crop? | |
| Will it contact edible portions? | |
| Will it be used for handwashing, produce washing, harvest tools or food-contact surfaces? | |
| Backflow/cross-connection requirement checked? | |
| Local Extension/health/utility guidance checked? |
Disposition: ☐ Proceed ☐ Investigate ☐ Modify ☐ Stop
Approved uses:
Prohibited uses:
| Priority bed | Method | Source | Volume/frequency plan | Person responsible | Stop/recheck trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accessibility/labor check: Can this plan be done without unsafe lifting, path obstruction or dependence on one person? ☐ Yes ☐ No
If no, modify:
| Date/time | Failed component | Action | Part/source | Who performed work | Outside help? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Do not record a workaround as a repair if the underlying fault remains.
☐ Source/advisory status verified for intended uses.
☐ Repaired area visually inspected.
☐ Lines flushed as appropriate for this system.
☐ Filter restored and not bypassed.
☐ Pressure/flow returned gradually and behaved normally.
☐ Every affected zone walked.
☐ Beginning, middle and end of representative runs checked.
☐ No new leaks/pooling found.
☐ Soil wetting pattern reaches intended root zone.
☐ Automation restored only after manual test passed.
☐ Members informed that normal service resumed.
Return-to-service time:
Person authorizing return:
| Question | Record |
|---|---|
| What actually failed? | |
| How long did it take to detect? | |
| How long until failure point was identified? | |
| How long until useful water service returned? | |
| Which crops were lost or intentionally closed? | |
| Was any unsafe/unknown water proposed or used? | |
| Did handwashing/harvest operations need to stop? | |
| Were maps/labels accurate? | |
| Were needed parts available? | |
| Did one person carry too much knowledge/work? | |
| What will be changed? |
| Item | Healthy | Watch | Correct | Stop | Current status/action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System map/labels | Current | Minor update | Major gaps | Source/shutoff unknown | |
| Backup water | Preapproved | Review due | Incomplete | Unknown/unsuitable | |
| Food-safety water plan | Separate plan | Minor gap | Depends on normal service | No safe harvest plan | |
| Spare parts | Compatible basics | Restock | Unidentified | Unsafe improvisation | |
| People | 2+ trained | Backup needs practice | Founder dependence | No responsible lead | |
| Recommissioning | Written test | Informal | Partial | No test |
| Topic | Authority/contact | Rule/guidance | Verified date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outages/advisories | |||
| Main shutoff/meter authority | |||
| Backflow/cross-connection | |||
| Private well testing | |||
| Rainwater use | |||
| Surface-water use | |||
| School/institutional food safety | |||
| Repair/licensing boundaries |
☐ I can locate the source and main shutoff.
☐ I can trace water from source to zones.
☐ I can separate irrigation water needs from safe handwashing/food-contact water needs.
☐ I can rank beds using soil moisture and crop stage.
☐ I can evaluate a backup source rather than assuming it is suitable.
☐ I know which repairs require outside help.
☐ I can prove a repaired zone is functioning before automation resumes.
☐ A second person can use this workbook without calling the founder.
Prepared by New World Survival. Substantive review: September 6, 2026. Evidence foundation includes EPA WaterSense irrigation-maintenance guidance; FDA agricultural-water safety framework; USDA Food and Nutrition Service school-garden food-safety guidance; and Cooperative Extension community-garden, crop-water and drip-irrigation guidance. Local water advisories, backflow rules, rainwater/surface-water use, well testing and institutional requirements must be verified locally.