In general, experts recommend having 14 gallons of water saved for each person (7 for drinking, 7 for washing). 14 gallons is about a 2 week supply, which is about how long it takes for a city to fix damages after a disaster. So if you are wondering how many containers to buy: one 55 gallon drum would provide water for 2 weeks for a family of 4. This includes enough water for drinking and washing.
It’s a good idea to diversify your water storage. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. In addition to having the large barrels, make sure to store some portable water. You should also have some form of water purification.
It’s a good idea to diversify your water storage. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. In addition to having the large barrels, make sure to store some portable water. You should also have some form of water purification.
In the event of a disaster, you would want to first use all the ice in your freezer. Water from your water heater can be used along with water from the toilet tank (not bowl). If you know a disaster is coming, you can fill your bathtubs in preparation (see link for bathtub bag).
TREATING WATER:
BLEACH: They used to tell us to add bleach when storing water…however, over the years they have found that bleach evaporates within the first 3-6 months of storage. If you are using city water from your tap or hose to fill your storage containers, the water is already treated anyway. You can treat the water as you use it by adding bleach as you consume it. Make sure its plain bleach without added fragrances, etc. Bleach will expire, so you will need to make sure to watch the expiration date.
To treat water with bleach add:
4 drops bleach per quart.
¼ tsp to 1 gallon water
¼ cup to 55 gallon drum of water
You should be able to drink the water about 45 minutes after treating it. If you treat an entire 55 gal barrel, it will stay treated and drinkable for 3-4 months.
FILTERS/PURIFIERS: There are many types of filters and purifiers you can buy to treat water. These are especially handy if you have a water source nearby (like a lake or river) or if you will be traveling. MicroPur tablets can be added to water to purify it and are easy to put in a 72 hr kit.
There are different levels of filters: A Filter will remove cysts, like Giardia. A Microfilter will remove most microorganisms, including Giardia, and Bacteria. A Purifier will eliminated ALL microorganisms including Giardia, Bacteria AND viruses. Filters differ on how many gallons they can clean too. It is those factors that make the price range so varied on these products. You can spend anywhere from $50-$500 on portable water filters depending on how many gallons they clean, and what kinds of organism they kill.
BOILING WATER : Boiling water is a really good way to kill all cysts, microorganisms and viruses. In general, if your water is coming from a container you stored it in, bleach will do the trick. However, bleach doesn’t kill cryptosporidium or giardia, so if you are obtaining water that is possibly contaminated (like water from a public pool or lake or shallow well) you will want to boil it for at least two minutes. Boiling will not help if the water is heavily polluted with chemicals. As a rule, the deeper the water, the cleaner the water. Water from a deep well is cleaner than water from a lake.
STORING WATER
No matter how you store your water, you will want to keep it in a cool dark place. Light and warmth promote growth of algae and bacteria. There are many options, including boxed water (usually good 5 years), barrels & containers, and 2 liter pop bottles. Do not use milk jugs as they are biodegradable and not meant for re-use. 2 liter pop bottles work if you wash them out and add 4 drops bleach to the water as you fill them and cap them tightly. Rotate yearly. Make sure any container you buy for water storage is meant for that purpose. Blue containers are for water, red are for fuel.
When filling barrels it’s a good idea to have a clean hose, one set aside specifically for that use only. We recommend an RV hose. Make sure to fill from your taps & spigots connected to house water (not Weber water). Store barrels in a cool place out of sunlight. Over a period of time, chemicals can seep in through the barrel walls into the water. Storing them in a garage, near cars where there is a lot of exhaust or gasoline fumes is not recommended. If you are storing outdoors in a shed or somewhere where it could freeze, only fill the barrel 9/10 of the way so there is extra room for the water to expand as it freezes. If there isn’t room for expansion, it will crack.
Chemicals from cement can also seep into the barrels from underneath, so you need to put the barrel on a couple of 2x4s or an untreated pallet. Wood acts as a barrier between the cement and the barrel. Make sure to use untreated wood as treated wood is full of chemicals.
Rotating/Cleaning Barrels:
If you are rotating/replacing your water, and need to empty a barrel that is already full, siphon the old water out and fill the barrel with a mixture of 1 parts bleach to 3 parts water. Roll it around to clean the barrel and then rinse and you’re ready to fill again.
Siphoning:
There are lots of types of manual siphons. Most places where you buy the barrels will have siphons for sale. These are great for everyday siphoning and it’s important to have a manual one in case the power is out. However, if you are trying to empty an entire barrel, ie, to replace the water in your existing barrels, manual siphons can take forever. There are electric siphons that are good for when you need to do a lot of siphoning. If you have a sump pump in your basement, you can actually use that.
When purchasing a barrel for the first time you will need to buy a siphon ($10) and a wrench ($7) that go with it. Some stores offer a starter kit type deal, where you get the barrel, wrench & siphon for discount. Currently, Emergency Essentials offers a combo for $53.
If water is: Free of Microorganisms, the container is made of food grade materials, the container is clean and tightly closed, and the container is kept from sunlight then it will remain safe indefinitely.
PRICING & WEBSITES
Electric siphon pumps: Standard Plumbing Supply in West Btfl has transfer pumps for $200 and sump pumps for $200.
Bathtub bag http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/CAMP205-1.html
Barrels: can be purchased at Emergency Essentials, Walmart, and the Ready Store.
Typical prices:
5 gallon $8-$14 depending on the style
15 gallon - $24.95
30 gallon - $34.95
55 gallon - $39.95
30 gallon - $34.95
55 gallon - $39.95
Water containers: http://www.thereadystore.com/
Emergency Essentials http://beprepared.com
Dicks Market on Orchard drive has their Case Lot sale coming up March 30-April 14th. They have the big barrels at this time. This is a great time to stock up on food too.
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| A siphon hose |
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| A gas bung wrench |
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