Oh, and to make sure I don't mess up, at the end of R1/2, were 
the springs rendered unusable forever, or just for while Ranma & Co were 
in China?

Yep. They all got mixed together and if you step in them..... who knows
WHAT will happen?!

Hold on a sec.  Explain the barrel then!!

That was the last of the nanniichuan water. That's why everyone was trying
to kill Happousai to get it. I think the guide had it saved already.

Kun-chan...