Grim, you make a really good point. In your current situation, it makes no sense for you to conserve water. However, look at my situation.

I live in an area where a clean well is unheard of. My well is among the better, I can drink mine without treatment other than a sediment filter. However, the well doesn't produce enough to suit my needs, even minimizing our usage. So, I have a cistern fed by my gutters(also with a sediment filter), it has it's own pressure tank, plumbed to my washer's cold side, and my toilet. With this, I don't have to worry about running out of water, if I'm not wasteful.

One might say drill another well...but I've got a better well than anyone I know within a 3 mile radius. That's just the nature of the water on this ridge. I also have a cistern feeding my landlord's camp, it's on a spring out of a coal seam. Good, clean drinkable water, some of the finest tasting spring water you can find anywhere. Should need arise, I can get water in jugs or buckets from it within walking distance to the house. There are 2 more springs on the property, I need to look into the quality of their water.

So, what are those of us with city water going to do if they turn it off? massive power failure, or whatever the cause may be. I do it every day, and have means to make do in most circumstances I expect to see. That's what people need to prepare for, grim, what happens when their normal means of obtaining water fail. Upon failure is a terrible time to start preparing, that's why we're all here, right?

Also, I have to disagree with the work schedule. I spent most of the hottest part of the summer working, honestly laboring 7 hours a day...sometimes a little less. The temperatures ranged from 95 to 105 on a hot day, in the sun. All the guys who work for us did, usually 5-6 days in a row(unless the rain or wind kept us from it). Most days were windless, and with all the safety crap we wear a breeze is barely noticeable. However, I consume between 4 and 5 liters of water throughout my working time(on days like that), plus drinking a half-liter bottle before starting work, and usually 1 or 2 after. It can be done, it's just takes a toll.

No flames :P