Storing water for emergencies is a fundamental aspect of preparedness for any household. The human body can survive for weeks without food, but only a few days without water. In the event of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, earthquake, or flood, your regular water supply might be cut off or contaminated. Here’s how to store water safely to ensure you have access to clean, potable water in the event of an emergency.
Understand How Much Water You Need Before you start storing water, you should determine how much you need. The general recommendation by emergency services is to store at least one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days. This amount is meant for drinking and sanitation purposes. A family of four, therefore, should aim to store at least 12 gallons of water as a basic emergency supply.
Choose the Right Containers Water should be stored in food-grade water containers, which are made from materials that won’t contaminate the water. These include:
- Polyethylene-based plastics (often marked with a #1, #2, or #4)
- Glass containers, although they are heavy and can break
- Stainless steel, as long as the containers are not used to store water that will be treated with chlorine, as it corrodes the stainless steel
Avoid containers that have previously been used to hold milk or juice because it’s difficult to remove residual proteins and fats, which could promote bacterial growth in stored water.
Preparing Water for Storage If you’re filling containers with tap water that is municipally treated (with chlorine), you generally don’t need to add anything to it to keep it clean. However, if you’re using water from a well or other untreated source, you should treat it with bleach before storage. Use regular, unscented chlorine bleach (typically 5.25-8.25% sodium hypochlorite), and add eight drops (or about 1/8 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon of water. Mix well and let it stand for 30 minutes before storing.
Proper Storage of Water Water should be stored in a cool, dark place to prevent algae and bacteria growth and to limit the exposure to sunlight, which can degrade plastic containers over time. Keep water containers away from harmful chemicals and odorous materials that could permeate the plastic and affect the water.
Ensure that stored water is inaccessible to children and pets, both for their safety and to prevent accidental contamination or spillage.
Maintenance and Rotation Water storage isn’t a one-time task. Over time, even treated water can become contaminated. To maintain the safety and freshness of your stored water, it should be rotated every six months. Mark the storage date on your containers and keep a schedule for when you need to rotate your supply.
If you don’t want to waste the water during rotation, consider using it to water plants or for cleaning, and then refill your containers with fresh, treated water.
Alternative Water Sources In addition to stored water, you should also familiarize yourself with alternate water sources in your home and environment. These could include water heaters, ice cube trays, or even the reservoir tank of your toilet (not the bowl). Remember that these sources may require filtration and disinfection before use.
Purification Methods for Non-Stored Water In extreme cases where you don’t have access to your stored water or you have depleted your supply, you need to know how to purify water from other sources. Boiling, using water purification tablets, or a high-quality water filter can make water from uncertain sources safe to drink.
Emergency Water Storage Tips
- Label your water with the storage date and include a ‘use by’ date.
- If commercial water bottles are your chosen storage method, keep them in their original sealed state, and they’ll remain potable well past their expiration date.
- Consider keeping a supply of water purification methods, such as iodine tablets, chlorine bleach, or a gravity-fed water filter, as a backup.
In conclusion, water storage for emergencies isn’t complicated, but it does require planning and routine maintenance. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your family remains hydrated and healthy during times when clean water isn’t readily available from your taps. Remember, in a disaster scenario, water is life. Your preparedness could be the difference between comfort and crisis.
