Water Filtration Plant (28mm terrain)
For a city built on a delta, Liberty suffers from a shortage of fresh water. The water in the delta is both brackish (because the delta is tidal) and also heavily laden with silt and organic matter. Thus a common sight is the water filtration plants dotted around the city. In the Manufactory, Administrative and Merchant areas, they have piped water laid on from a number of larger plants. In the Western Suburbs, they draw water from boreholes and again, piped water is supplied to every house.
In the Shanties things have to be done differently. Each of the great steel rafts will have its own small water filtration plant.
Unusually they are a service provided by the Municipality of Liberty and are serviced by city employees. All citizens have a ‘water card’ which allows them to a fixed amount of water.
Once they have used that, they can buy more by putting money onto their card by visiting an office in the Administrative area.
Once you have a card the procedure is simple. Just put your bucket under the nozzle, insert your card, fill your bucket and then withdraw your card. Some bosses will have a bully loitering in the area, just to make sure that nobody tries to get their water paid for using the card of somebody weaker or more infirm.
Given the cost of water, to use it for washing is a sign of conspicuous consumption and will lead to the neighbours
gossiping about you. Most families will have a fine cloth which they will spread over a suitable receptacle. They will then
slowly pour delta water through the cloth into the receptacle.
This removes most of the silt and organic matter. It is considered adequate for washing but not drinking. Should you
need to wash anything delicate then it is best to visit a public bathhouse in the Manufactory.
Traditionally the cloth is rinsed and the material so collected is used to top up and fertilise the garden containers many
families have. Thus you can see flowers, peppers, cussco or even yams growing in a tub by the door of the smallest shanty.
Many inhabitants will take a perfunctory dip in the canals between the rafts if they are particularly dirty. Once they have
had the requisite vaccines, it is common to see the youngsters of a score of species swimming and playing in the canals.
Normally they can expect a bucket of filtered water poured over them when they get home.
Just a note to those modelling these interesting facilities, the towers themselves at just 330ml coke cans. It struck us that
people would prefer to drink their own coke than have us drink it for them and ship them the empty can.