Emergency Water Supply

Maintaining an emergency water supply should be among your top priorities.

• Know how much to water to store per person
• What type of containers to use
• How to purify it
• Where to find alternative water sources

Don't wait until there is a storm warming or the ground is rumpling under your feet to start collecting an emergency water supply.

Keep in mind that during or after a disaster, the water supply can quickly become contaminated or eliminated all together.

If the water supply is totally eliminated, time is of the essence; as humans we can only go 3-5 days without water.

Our body's consists of 70% water, which is required for the distribution of nutrients, electrolytes, hormones, and other chemical messengers throughout the body, as well as the removal of waste products. Water is involved in cellular energy production and the maintenance of body temperature.

While drinking water is critical, an emergency water supply will also be necessary for washing, bathing and sanitation. And if you have placed dried foods in your food stores you will also need water to re-hydrate and cook them.

 

Storing Your Emergency Water Supply

The general rule of thumb for water storage is two gallons per person per day; drinking, cooking and sanitation. Start with storing enough water for one week and then increase the amount as you are able.

Special Considerations

• Extreme heat can double the amount needed
• Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more
• You will need additional water for food preparation and hygiene

Before storing your emergency water supply, treat it with disinfectant, such as chlorine bleach, to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Use liquid bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite and no soap. See purification recipe below.

If bleach is more than a year old double the amount used as it loses strength over time.

Store the water in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiberglass or enamel-lined metal containers. Do not use milk jugs as they decompose quickly.

Never use a container that has held toxic substances. Sound plastic containers, such as soft drink bottles, are best. You can also purchase food-grade plastic buckets or drums.

Food-grade plastic storage containers are available commercially in sizes from five gallons to 250 or more.

Containers with handles and spouts are usually five to seven gallons, which will weigh between 40 and 56 pounds. Get too far beyond that and you'll have great difficulty moving a full tank.

Nitro offers a 5 Gallon Collapsible water jug with a sturdy carrying handle and an easy-pour and leak-proof on/off spigot. Wide intake neck for adding ice cubes. Adds no taste or oder to the water. On Sale now for $9.99.

15 gallon and 30 gallon containers used for food service, such as delivery of syrups to soda bottlers and other manufacturers, are often available on the surplus market. After proper cleaning, these are ideal for water storage as long as a tight seal can be maintained.

• 55 gallon drums and larger tanks are also useful for long-term storage. But make sure you have a good pump on hand!


• Seal your water containers tightly, label them and store them in a cool, dark place.


• You can also purchase cases of six one-gallon jugs, which frequently go on sale for just under 50 cents per gallon. The heavy-duty cardboard boxes stack easily and protect the jugs from rupturing.


• Rotate all water at least every six months, even commercially prepared bottled "spring" or "drinking" water.


• Water weighs over 8 pounds per gallon, make sure the shelves or area in which you store the water is strong enough to support the weight. For best quality, replace water stored from a public or vended water supply every six months.


• If you use bottled water, be sure it came from a safe source. If you do not know that the water came from a safe source, you should boil or treat it before you use it.


• If you use commercially prepared "spring" or "drinking" water, keep it in the original sealed container. Once opened, use it. Do not store it again.


• For commercially bottled distilled or drinking water, check the label for an expiration date. If none is given, bottled water with the IBWA or NSF seal should have a shelf-life of at least one year.

Also, you can improve the taste of water stored for a long time, by pouring it from one clean container to another clean container several times, to put air back into it.

 

Purification Tips & Recipe

• First, filter the water to remove as many solids as possible by straining it into a container through paper towels, several layers of clean cloth or paper coffee filters.
• Then, bring the water to a rolling boil for a full ten minutes.
• Next, let the water cool at least 30 minutes.
• Add bleach or tincture of iodine 2% with an eyedropper.
• mixing water with chlorine tablets, iodine tablets, or liquid bleach will not kill parasitic organisms.
• Use a bleach solution to rinse water containers before reusing them.
• Use water storage tanks and other types of containers with caution. For example, fire truck storage tanks and previously used cans or bottles may be contaminated with microbes or chemicals.

DO NOT USE GRANULAR form of bleach, it is POISONOUS! (The only active ingredient in the bleach should be 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. There should not be any added soap or fragrances).

Print this off and place it with your water supply so its handy:

Amount of Water	Amount of Chlorine Bleach to add per unit of Water		Amount of Iodine 2% to add as an Alternative to Bleach
Unit	Clear Water	Cloudy Water	Clear Water	Cloudy Water
1 quart	2 drops	4 drops	3 drops	6 drops
1 gallon	8 drops	16 drops	12 drops	24 drops
5 gallons	½ teaspoon	1 teaspoon	¾ teaspoon	1 ½ teaspoons

Mix the solution thoroughly and let it stand for about 30 minutes before using it.

If the water smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, add 8 more drops of chlorine bleach, let stand 30 minutes and smell again. If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If the water does not smell of chlorine this time, discard it and find another water source.

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Purification Tablets

As an alternative to using bleach, you can purchase water purification tablets from drug stores, sporting goods and camping gear outlets to place in your first aid kit and disaster supply kit. Just follow the directions as stated on package.

Most tablets have a 2 year shelf life and should be stored in a sealed plastic baggie to prevent them from getting damp as this will cause them to lose their effectiveness.

In Home Water Filter Systems

Most point-of-use (POU) filters are designed to improve the aesthetics of water (improve taste and odor), but do not remove harmful bacteria.

You can learn about the capability of your filter by contacting the manufacturer or NSF International, an independent testing group located in Ann Arbor, Michigan (Ph. 1-800-673-8010). If in doubt, you should boil your water or use bottled water even if you have a filtering system.

Do not rely on untested devices for decontaminating your emergency water supply.

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Other Sources of Water

If you have enough warning you can fill your pots and pans, bath tubs, and trash cans with water from the faucets. This water can be used to washing and flushing toilets.

Canned vegetables also contain liquid that can be consumed. Water from boiling pasta, cooking vegetables and similar sources can and should be retained and drunk, after it has cooled.

Another source of water in your home will be stored in your water pipes and hot water heater. As a last resort, you can use water in the reservoir tank of your toilet but not the bowl.

Don't forget swimming pools and water beds.

Collect rain water. This can range from large tarps or sheets of plastic to a system for collecting water run off from your roof or gutters.

National Atlas provides free printable state maps of rivers and lakes. Scout out specific locations where it would be easy to fill a container and the safest way to get it home. Once you have identified a source of water, you need to have bottles or other containers ready to transport it or store it.  

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to carry water from a lake or stream consider purchasing a 5 Gallon Collapsible water jug with a sturdy carrying handle and an easy-pour and leak-proof on/off spigot. Nitro offers one that adds no taste or oder to the water. On Sale now for $9.99.

 

Contamination Risks

A good example of the contamination risks is the 2010 earthquake aftermath in Haiti. There are now more deaths due to waterborne illnesses then from the earthquake itself. Most of these deaths are a result of cholera which produces chronic diarrhea. Nearly every water source in Haiti has become contaminated with human waste because of the absence of a sewage sanitation system and clean water sources.

Without an emergency water supply or means to treat whatever water is available, you run the risk of being exposed to a variety of harmful germs and bacteria.

Consider purchasing a portable water purifier that will filter out harmful bacteria and viruses.

 

If I could encourage you to do at least one thing, it would be to set aside an emergency water supply for you and your family.

What water you save for an emergency, might just be what saves you and your family in an emergency.

 

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