How do you do it??

[Anonymous]

Hey there…new member here..Two years ago I read an article in a magazine at work, about life and working at McMurdo. Since then I have thought constantly about applying for a job on “the ice”. On nightshifts at work, I always find myself doing search’s on the internet for anything about McMurdo. There is one thing that I keep seeing on different sights and I have to wonder. I read that when it comes to showers, there is a 2 minute time limit on running water, and that you shower every other day. Is this true?? If it is, how does one manage? Showering every other day is no problem, but a 2 minute shower?? How do the women with long hair deal with that?? 😆

[Sciencetech]

Hello Pat. Back in the “good ‘ol days” at McMurdo there was a limit like that, but in these bountiful times of reverse-osmosis (RO) water purification people can take showers whenever they want. That’s not to say that water should be wasted, but no hard limits are imposed unless the station is running short.

At Palmer, where I am, the fresh water generation capacity of the station’s RO system is outstanding, so it’s not a problem here either. At both McMurdo and Palmer the fresh water is made from desalinated sea water.

South Pole, however, is a different story. Because all the water is made by melting snow and ice, it takes a lot more time and energy. (Any Polies out there care to comment on the current shower limits? When I was last there it was limited to 2 showers a week, 2 minutes each.) It was/is accepted as part of the experience of living there. Greasy dreadlocks are stylish… 😉

[Anonymous]

Thanks Glenn…I did wonder about that..In the event that I can get down there, ( Iwill probably apply next year,I understand it can be hard to get in, but I will keep trying until I do) I wanted to know. My hair is almost to my waist, sooo, a 2 minute shower wont cut it..Unless I cut the hair, which I would be willing to do IF I had to… 😆

[thepooles98]

Don’t cut your hair, at least not yet. Apply at McM. You are most likely to get hired here. For the next two years here they are doing upgrades to the water and power plants. Up to now we’ve had a seperate power facility and a seperate water plant. The upgrades will split the two so that each building has power and water generating abilities. This way in case of fire or other disaster, we will still have backup.
For the time being they have taken one for RO units off line in the water plant and have removed it in preparation for the new plant. In the winter there is no impact, but I’m not sure what will happen if it’s not up and running by the summer. Maybe then you could cut your hair.
mike in mcmurdo.

[Anonymous]

HI Mike…thanks for the info…NO, I wont be cutting the hair right away…I figured I would wait..I am sure it will take me at least 2 years just to get hired on, so, maybe things will change by then…I understand there is a barber down there…If I get desperate, perhaps I would pay them a visit..But that’s only if I become desperate….haha 😀

[Iceman]

I helped in the hookup of the RO plants. I was there during the winter when they were installed. I do believe that was W/O 95.

[Sciencetech]

@Iceman wrote:

I helped in the hookup of the RO plants. I was there during the winter when they were installed. I do believe that was W/O 95.

Was that at Palmer or McMurdo?

Until ’95 or thereabouts, Palmer got a lot of its water from the skua pond behind the station. It sounds awful, but we were glad to have it. When the skua pond went dry we used flash evaporators, which were nowhere near as efficient — water rationing went in effect.

It’s really good to have the RO units now.

[Iceman]

That was Mactown. They took the flash evaps offline and fired up the RO units and they were making so much water they were dumping down the drain. They basically told us to go crazy with the water, they were making more than enough to keep up with the winter demand.

[Author]

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