NEXT TO AIR, WATER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT
FOR LIFE. MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH ON HAND. THINK WATER STORAGE.
Water that we take for granted when things are normal
becomes absolutely critical in times of an emergency. This is an area you can't
afford to overlook in your preparedness preparations. Fact: "The
human body can't survive even one week without water". In general terms,
the human body requires 4 times as much water as food. Therefore, for every
pound of food consumed in one day, it is necessary to consume about 4 pounds of
water (which is about 1/2 gallon).
NOTE: The easiest way to store the bulk of your water
storage is in 55 gallon polyethylene (plastic) water storage drums (FDA
approved for storing drinking water). You simply fill the drums up with your
own tap water. We recommend two 55 gallon drums of water storage per person. Before filling a drum with water, make sure
the NPT plug (fine thread; non-white cap) is not positioned next to a wall etc.
It should be on the top front side of the drum for easy access, because this is
the bung hole that the drum pumps thread into.
Remember also that you have several sources of water already
in your home that can be tapped in an emergency such as your hot water
heater, toilet tanks (don't use water from a tank that contains colored
disinfectant, it is poisonous), water pipes, ice in the freezer, etc. Water is
relatively inexpensive to store and certainly not difficult to do - but
certainly the time to store is now.
It is also a good idea to have a water filter in addition to
your water storage drums. This would allow you to purify dirty water from
lakes, rivers, creeks, rain gutters, etc.
EMERGENCY WATER
STORAGE
Various sources recommend home storage of a two week supply
of water. The amount often recommended is seven gallons per person for drinking
and food preparation, and another seven gallons per person for other limited
uses such as hand washing, teeth brushing and dish washing (total fourteen
gallons per person for two weeks). It should be noted that this amount is
enough for sustenance purposes only, two quarts for drinking and two quarts for
cleaning and bathing etc. per day. When you consider that a household normally
uses in excess of 50 gallons of water per day for drinking, bathing, laundry,
dishes, flushing the toilet etc., this isn't a lot of water. If you have the
room to store more you will probably want to do so. Both glass and plastic
containers are commonly used for water storage at home. Containers should
be clean and sanitary. Glass containers are breakable and somewhat heavy
compared to plastic, but they are not permeable to vapors and gases, the amount
of leaching (dissolving) of chemicals from glass into water is insignificant.
Plastic containers are lightweight and substantially more resistant to breakage
than glass.
If plastic containers are used, care should be taken to
assure that they are made of plastic approved for food contact by the Federal
Food and Drug Administration. Polyethylene plastic is approved for food contact
and is commonly used for containers of various sizes, including large 55 gallon
drums. Certain types of plastic containers are not intended for food contact
(such as vinyl plastic waterbeds, or trash containers) and may leach
undesirable chemicals into stored water. Leaching of chemicals from approved
plastics is negligible.
WATER STORAGE
DISINFECTION
For long-term water storage, tap water should be sterilized
or disinfected in thoroughly cleaned plastic or glass containers. Water can be
chemically disinfected for long-term storage by treating each gallon with 16
drops of liquid chlorine bleach (Clorox or Purex type bleaches, containing 4%
to 6% sodium hypochlorite; do not use scented bleach). One teaspoon of
bleach disinfects five gallons of water. Three tablespoons will disinfect 55
gallons of water. This level of treatment will kill bacteria and viruses and
prevent the growth of microorganisms during storage. Also check with your local
water plant for any additional information they may have for you.
Water stored in plastic containers should not be stored near
gasoline, kerosene, pesticides or similar substances. Vapors from these
substances could permeate the plastic and affect the water. Thick-walled
polyethylene containers are significantly less permeable to vapors than are
thin walled containers. Be certain, when selecting a water storage container,
that it has a tight fitting cap or lid to prevent entrance of contaminants and
evaporation of water. Because sunlight has an adverse effect on plastic, water
should be stored away from direct exposure to sunlight. Store in a cool, dry
area with no sunlight, like the basement.
Studies show sterilized or disinfected water, stored in
clean, food-approved containers with secure lids or caps should be safe for use
even after many years of storage. Replacement of stored water with fresh water
should be necessary only if the stored water becomes contaminated in some way
or if the container should begin to leak. Be certain to label each container so
there will be no question about its contents. Include the date and information
on the method of disinfection used. We recommend changing properly stored water
every three to five years.
Article from 21st Century Food Storage
