Storing An Emergency Water Supply
Water is essential for survival. When disasters happen that disrupt the water supply to your house, you may have to rely on the water you have stored a head of time.
How much water should I store?
A person needs two quarts of water per day to be sufficiently hydrated. In addition to drinking water, you need to store water for cooking and for sanitation. That’s why it’s recommended that you store a gallon per person, per day for a minimum of three days. That equals Three (3) gallons for each person in your household as the minimum amount required to take care of drinking, cooking, and hygiene needs for the first three days after a disaster. If you have room to store more than the minimum recommended, then do it!!! Water is the most important part of your emergency supply kit!
Tips on how to store a supply of emergency drinking water:
Tip # 1: You can store water from the tap in plastic containers with a screw-cap lid, such as two-liter soda pop bottles or food-grade plastic jugs. Thoroughly rinse out the container with water. (For extra safety, thoroughly rinse the container with a weak solution of liquid chlorine bleach (8-10 drops in two cups water), Empty this solution out then fill the container right to the top with fresh water. Seal the container tightly, label it “drinking water” and date it. Store it in a cool, dark place such as, under the bed or behind the sofa. Empty and refill every 6 months.
Tip # 2: You can purchase containers that are designed to store water at the grocery stores or camping supply stores. These can be various sizes of containers from single gallon to fifty-five gallon drums. Be sure the containers are food grade plastic and designed for water storage. Rinse and fill same as above. Empty and refill every 6 months. Remember, the larger the container, the heavier and more difficult to pour the water from.
Tip # 3: Purchase cases of bottled water from the grocery or warehouse store. Label the case with the date and store in a cool, dark place. Replace bottled water prior to the expiration date on the bottles or at least once a year.
Do not use glass bottles or old bleach bottles (or any container that has held a toxic substance). Glass breaks too easily. The plastic of old bleach bottles contains substances that, over time, get into the water and make it unfit for drinking. Avoid the use of plastic milk jugs. They are difficult to seal tightly, and their plastic becomes very fragile and brittle over time.
Additional information:
• The only thing that should be used to purify water is liquid household bleach containing 6.00% sodium
hypochlorite and no thickeners, soaps or scents. Other chemicals, such as iodine or products sold in
camping or surplus stores ARE NOT RECOMMENDED AND SHOULD NOT BE USED.
• Boiling water kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause illness. Treating water with chlorine
bleach kills most viruses, but will probably not kill bacteria. Therefore, boiling and then adding chlorine bleach is an effective water purification method.
• The only accepted measurement of chlorine is the drop. A drop is specifically measurable. Other measures, such as “capful” or “scant teaspoon” are not uniformly measurable, and should not be used.
• There is no difference in the treatment of potentially contaminated water that is cloudy or that which is
clear.
● If you use two-liter soda pop bottles, plan to store at least six (6) of these for each person in your household.
● If you buy bottled water, get an extra case for daily use. When replacing the water, put the new case on the bottom. You’ll always have fresh water for your kit!
● An easy way to remember when to empty and refill your water is to do it when you change your clock in the fall and spring for daylight savings time!