I try in all things to be prepared so this blog entry tackles the subject of water storage and water purification in case of
an emergency. My Friend, Jackie gave me a packet of information and that is the source of most of my
information. Most of the information she gave me has no source on the paperwork but the few that do come
from the 'How to Survival Library' and 'Emergency Essentials' websites. The
Emergency Essentials website has a link on this page.
So how much? How do we store it? What sources can we get it from? How do we make sure that it is healthy? What can we do to purify it?
So how much Water should We be Storing?
Well according to my sources about a gallon a day per person for basic needs - if you want to include a sponge bath on that basic needs then you will need to increase it to two gallons. You should store a minimum of 3 days worth of water for you and your family (7 is suggested). You just can't depend on the government to get there to help any quicker than that. Also remember any special needs you may have in your home - babies, seniors, health issues - all need to be taken into consideration when deciding the amount of water to store. You absolutely DO NOT want to ration water during an emergency so plan accordingly.
How do We Store it?
You can store in a multitude of containers. It's not suggested that you use thin walled containers (like milk jugs) since they are designed to breakdown and are permeable to gases. They can even absorb the last thing that was stored in them and then contaminate the water. New containers are the best but you can use thicker walled containers like soda bottles, juice bottles, and even canning jars (although glass may break in a disaster). Make sure that the seal on the top is tight and that they are thoroughly clean. Opaque containers are the best since that prevents light from reaching the water - slowing the growth of any algae. Storing in chlorine bleach bottles is acutally not suggested because of the residue of bleach in the bottle. You can, however, use this water for personal hygene. Oh, and never use metal containers.
Another option would be the large barrels for storage since you can store up to 55 gallons at a pop. But these are expensive and for those that live in apartments there is a problem with storing such a large container. Also in case of emergency if you have to evacuate the area then carrying a 55 gallon container of water would be, well, pretty much impossible since the water alone weighs about 440 pounds. So having water in both smaller containers and the larger drums is the best option.
Make sure you label the water and rotate the water in your water storage about every six months. Water actually has a long shelf life (several years according to one source) if it is stored correctly but when you rotate your stock you preserve the quality of the water for a longer period of time. You also have a chance to see if any of your stock has become contaminated or if any containers have leaked. I can think of nothing worse than thinking your prepared only to find when the need arises that 1/2 of your water is no longer useable.
Make sure you store your water away from paint products or gasoline or anything that has an odor (even onions and soap) as your water may pick up that making it unpleasant to drink. This is why the thicker the container the better. And store them in an area where light cannot reach them otherwise you may end up with bacteria or algae growth. And store up off the ground.
Make sure when you store the water that you put a purifying agent in the water before you seal it up (like chlorine bleach or iodine) to help with preserving the water. Although several sources said that you should NEVER trust stored water. You just don't know if something that you can't see has gone horribly wrong with the water.
'Water is one of the most important
survival necessities after any major disaster. A person can survive weeks
without food, but only a few days without water.' Anonymous
So how much? How do we store it? What sources can we get it from? How do we make sure that it is healthy? What can we do to purify it?
So how much Water should We be Storing?
Well according to my sources about a gallon a day per person for basic needs - if you want to include a sponge bath on that basic needs then you will need to increase it to two gallons. You should store a minimum of 3 days worth of water for you and your family (7 is suggested). You just can't depend on the government to get there to help any quicker than that. Also remember any special needs you may have in your home - babies, seniors, health issues - all need to be taken into consideration when deciding the amount of water to store. You absolutely DO NOT want to ration water during an emergency so plan accordingly.
How do We Store it?
You can store in a multitude of containers. It's not suggested that you use thin walled containers (like milk jugs) since they are designed to breakdown and are permeable to gases. They can even absorb the last thing that was stored in them and then contaminate the water. New containers are the best but you can use thicker walled containers like soda bottles, juice bottles, and even canning jars (although glass may break in a disaster). Make sure that the seal on the top is tight and that they are thoroughly clean. Opaque containers are the best since that prevents light from reaching the water - slowing the growth of any algae. Storing in chlorine bleach bottles is acutally not suggested because of the residue of bleach in the bottle. You can, however, use this water for personal hygene. Oh, and never use metal containers.
Another option would be the large barrels for storage since you can store up to 55 gallons at a pop. But these are expensive and for those that live in apartments there is a problem with storing such a large container. Also in case of emergency if you have to evacuate the area then carrying a 55 gallon container of water would be, well, pretty much impossible since the water alone weighs about 440 pounds. So having water in both smaller containers and the larger drums is the best option.
Make sure you label the water and rotate the water in your water storage about every six months. Water actually has a long shelf life (several years according to one source) if it is stored correctly but when you rotate your stock you preserve the quality of the water for a longer period of time. You also have a chance to see if any of your stock has become contaminated or if any containers have leaked. I can think of nothing worse than thinking your prepared only to find when the need arises that 1/2 of your water is no longer useable.
Make sure you store your water away from paint products or gasoline or anything that has an odor (even onions and soap) as your water may pick up that making it unpleasant to drink. This is why the thicker the container the better. And store them in an area where light cannot reach them otherwise you may end up with bacteria or algae growth. And store up off the ground.
Make sure when you store the water that you put a purifying agent in the water before you seal it up (like chlorine bleach or iodine) to help with preserving the water. Although several sources said that you should NEVER trust stored water. You just don't know if something that you can't see has gone horribly wrong with the water.
Can I Use of Existing Water
Sources?
When you first have an emergency you want to use the existing water sources in your home first. They are more likely to get contaminated or evaporate than your safely stored water. So what water sources can I use in my home?
Well, first you can use your water heater water. There is a spigot on the bottom side wall of your water heater. Drain it into a bucket and then you can use it from there. Oh, and according to my sources it drains easier if you open a faucet in your home. Something to do with water pressure in the lines. Please note too if you do not empty your water heater on a regular basis then you will have a build up of sediment that will come out too. So you will have to purify this water before use.
You can also use the water out of the toilet flush tank (not the bowl). Of course, it goes with out saying that this will have to be purified. You may want to use it just for personal hygiene or water for your pets if it grosses you out to think of cooking or drinking it. Do not use the water if you use one of those 'blue' tablet things or any chemical cleaning product in your bowl. You can't purify the chemicals out unless you have a specialize filter that does that.
Then there is melted ice cubes from your freezer - that's kind of a 'duh' item that I would forget. If you have freezer space then it is a good idea to freeze water too in large containers. It does two things - gives you water storage and fills up the freezer with ice so if your freezer goes down in an emergency then you have already built in ice packs that will help to keep the food cold longer. Oh, and for daily use it costs less to keep your freezer cold if it is full. So fill up that extra space with frozen water containers.
Make sure that you take advantage of any liquid in any canned foods that you have too. That extra liquid can be used for cooking, etc.
And the biggest source of water, for those that have it, is your swimming pool or hot tub. There is a difference of opinion on whether or not you should use the water from your pool or spa. There are a lot of chemicals in this water (so we can keep our pools and spas sparkling) so use this source last for drinking and cooking and use ONLY after purifying. But you can use all you want for personal hygiene. And just a FYI here too - we have a large pond in our yard that we could use as a water source too. There are no chemicals in it (we have fish) but it obviously would need to be purified too but it would be no different than using the water from a river that has fish.
Water Sources NOT to use include hot water boilers (from heating systems), radiators and water beds. Water beds actually have fungicides added to the water and over the years will have probably absorbed some of the chemicals from the vinyl. Again these sources can be used for non food uses. If you want to wash your hair with water from your water bed - go ahead :)
How do I Purifying Water?
One of the nightmares in an emergency situation is getting bad water. How many time have we heard in the paper after the disaster happens that people are dying of Cholera or some other water born illness. Giardia is one of the more commonly know bugs and it is everywhere. It is ranked among the top 20 infectious death causing diseases in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We see it mostly in the mountain streams in the US but it is in our water so we need to be vigilant.
Purifying your water is not only important but essential for keeping your family safe during an emergency. There are several ways that you can purify water.
First and the most suggested way is boiling. You need to boil the water for 10 minutes (if you are at high altitudes then add an additional 10 minutes). This will remove most 'bugs' but it will not remove chemical contaminates. The water will also taste flat so aerate it by pouring the water back and forth between two different containers (clean containers) to get some of the air back into it. The one big negative that I can see with boiling is that you are using another precious resource to do it and that is whatever you are using for heating/cooking.
Another option is using bleach in your water. Make sure that the bleach is 5.25% hypochlorite bleach (Clorox) and is no more than 2 years old (the older it gets the more it looses its 'umph'). Also check to make sure it has no additives or scents added to the bleach before you use it. Add 2 drops to clear water and 4 drops to cloudy water of bleach to 1 quart of at least 75 degree water then wait 1/2 hour. If it's colder than 75 degrees then leave it over night. If you cannot smell or taste the chlorine then you need to add another dose and wait an additional 15 minutes. If you cannot smell or taste the chlorine after the second dose then you do not want to use the water.
Iodine is another option - use 2% tincture of iodine, 3 drops for clear water and 6 drops for cloudy water for 1 quart of 75 degree water for 20 minutes. Iodine will leave a foul after taste but the water will be safe. Oh, and note that Women who are pregnant or nursing or people with thyroid problems should avoid this water.
You can always distill your water too. This is done by boiling your water and then hanging a metal bowl over the boiling pot. The clean water will attach itself to the bowl. You simply tip the bowl over a cup or pot and the water will roll off the surface. There are some challenges with logistics on this one but the water will be clean enough to drink. The flavor will be flat on this one too (like boiling) and you will be using up your heating and cooking materials.
There is always the option of purification tablets but they expire within a few short years but don't dismiss them because of this. They are very effective in treating water and easy to store in your 72 hour kits. Just make sure you pull them when they expire and put new ones in.
Last on my list of water purifying items is to use a filter. There are so many different kinds of filters on the market. This is, if you can afford it, the absolute best option for water purification. There are levels on the different water filters so pay attention and make sure you get what you want. Some only protect against the bad bugs - like Giardia and Cryptosporidium while the next level of filters will actually take out viruses. If you want filters that remove chemicals then you will want the next level water treatment filter. Like I said you need to be aware of what you want and how much you are willing to spend. We have the katadyn filter (www.beprepared.com) and use it for hiking and our food storage - it's small enough to remove all scary bacteria and some of the viruses (but not all). It also does not address the chemical contamination issues. It does what we need it to do for normal water purification.
So that's it - in a very short nut shell. Enjoy!
When you first have an emergency you want to use the existing water sources in your home first. They are more likely to get contaminated or evaporate than your safely stored water. So what water sources can I use in my home?
Well, first you can use your water heater water. There is a spigot on the bottom side wall of your water heater. Drain it into a bucket and then you can use it from there. Oh, and according to my sources it drains easier if you open a faucet in your home. Something to do with water pressure in the lines. Please note too if you do not empty your water heater on a regular basis then you will have a build up of sediment that will come out too. So you will have to purify this water before use.
You can also use the water out of the toilet flush tank (not the bowl). Of course, it goes with out saying that this will have to be purified. You may want to use it just for personal hygiene or water for your pets if it grosses you out to think of cooking or drinking it. Do not use the water if you use one of those 'blue' tablet things or any chemical cleaning product in your bowl. You can't purify the chemicals out unless you have a specialize filter that does that.
Then there is melted ice cubes from your freezer - that's kind of a 'duh' item that I would forget. If you have freezer space then it is a good idea to freeze water too in large containers. It does two things - gives you water storage and fills up the freezer with ice so if your freezer goes down in an emergency then you have already built in ice packs that will help to keep the food cold longer. Oh, and for daily use it costs less to keep your freezer cold if it is full. So fill up that extra space with frozen water containers.
Make sure that you take advantage of any liquid in any canned foods that you have too. That extra liquid can be used for cooking, etc.
And the biggest source of water, for those that have it, is your swimming pool or hot tub. There is a difference of opinion on whether or not you should use the water from your pool or spa. There are a lot of chemicals in this water (so we can keep our pools and spas sparkling) so use this source last for drinking and cooking and use ONLY after purifying. But you can use all you want for personal hygiene. And just a FYI here too - we have a large pond in our yard that we could use as a water source too. There are no chemicals in it (we have fish) but it obviously would need to be purified too but it would be no different than using the water from a river that has fish.
Water Sources NOT to use include hot water boilers (from heating systems), radiators and water beds. Water beds actually have fungicides added to the water and over the years will have probably absorbed some of the chemicals from the vinyl. Again these sources can be used for non food uses. If you want to wash your hair with water from your water bed - go ahead :)
How do I Purifying Water?
One of the nightmares in an emergency situation is getting bad water. How many time have we heard in the paper after the disaster happens that people are dying of Cholera or some other water born illness. Giardia is one of the more commonly know bugs and it is everywhere. It is ranked among the top 20 infectious death causing diseases in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We see it mostly in the mountain streams in the US but it is in our water so we need to be vigilant.
Purifying your water is not only important but essential for keeping your family safe during an emergency. There are several ways that you can purify water.
First and the most suggested way is boiling. You need to boil the water for 10 minutes (if you are at high altitudes then add an additional 10 minutes). This will remove most 'bugs' but it will not remove chemical contaminates. The water will also taste flat so aerate it by pouring the water back and forth between two different containers (clean containers) to get some of the air back into it. The one big negative that I can see with boiling is that you are using another precious resource to do it and that is whatever you are using for heating/cooking.
Another option is using bleach in your water. Make sure that the bleach is 5.25% hypochlorite bleach (Clorox) and is no more than 2 years old (the older it gets the more it looses its 'umph'). Also check to make sure it has no additives or scents added to the bleach before you use it. Add 2 drops to clear water and 4 drops to cloudy water of bleach to 1 quart of at least 75 degree water then wait 1/2 hour. If it's colder than 75 degrees then leave it over night. If you cannot smell or taste the chlorine then you need to add another dose and wait an additional 15 minutes. If you cannot smell or taste the chlorine after the second dose then you do not want to use the water.
Iodine is another option - use 2% tincture of iodine, 3 drops for clear water and 6 drops for cloudy water for 1 quart of 75 degree water for 20 minutes. Iodine will leave a foul after taste but the water will be safe. Oh, and note that Women who are pregnant or nursing or people with thyroid problems should avoid this water.
You can always distill your water too. This is done by boiling your water and then hanging a metal bowl over the boiling pot. The clean water will attach itself to the bowl. You simply tip the bowl over a cup or pot and the water will roll off the surface. There are some challenges with logistics on this one but the water will be clean enough to drink. The flavor will be flat on this one too (like boiling) and you will be using up your heating and cooking materials.
There is always the option of purification tablets but they expire within a few short years but don't dismiss them because of this. They are very effective in treating water and easy to store in your 72 hour kits. Just make sure you pull them when they expire and put new ones in.
Last on my list of water purifying items is to use a filter. There are so many different kinds of filters on the market. This is, if you can afford it, the absolute best option for water purification. There are levels on the different water filters so pay attention and make sure you get what you want. Some only protect against the bad bugs - like Giardia and Cryptosporidium while the next level of filters will actually take out viruses. If you want filters that remove chemicals then you will want the next level water treatment filter. Like I said you need to be aware of what you want and how much you are willing to spend. We have the katadyn filter (www.beprepared.com) and use it for hiking and our food storage - it's small enough to remove all scary bacteria and some of the viruses (but not all). It also does not address the chemical contamination issues. It does what we need it to do for normal water purification.
So that's it - in a very short nut shell. Enjoy!
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