I keep my water stones (except the 4000 and 8000) in tupperware conainers in water above my sharpening bench. I also have a 5 gal bucket beside the bench filled with water and with a scrubby sponge hanging in it. Whenever I change from one stone to the next, I dunk both the previous stone and the tool in its jig into the bucket to rinse them off. I also use this bucket to rinse off the SiC wet/dry paper I use for flattening.
I have a green stone, but have quit using it since it dishes out too easily. I find it much easier to use the slow speed grinder to restore the shape to a tool edge, then refine the bevel on a steel diamond stone (medium), then go sirectly to 800, then 1200 then 4000. I always use a old style veritas jig because I like flat bevels and I can use this also to crown my blades if I want to.
I flatten my water stones before every sharpening operation using 100 or 150 grit SiC paper on a black granite stone. Just takes a few swipes and I know my stones are always flat.
I use a wooden holder for my stones, sort of like a bench hook, with two sets of stops on it--one for a diamond stone an done for my waterstones (all of these are the same length). I also have a cookie sheet with a glued-on cork bottom and with some shelf stuff in it to keep the stones from moving around.
