Dec 31 2009
How To Store Emergency Water
The biggest mistake you can make when getting prepared for a possible disaster is not having enough emergency water. Storing water is the number one step you should take. There is a whole host of problems that can arise when a crisis has occurred and you are trapped somewhere with no access to clean water. We take it for granted that the water that comes out of our taps is safe enough to drink, yet if that option disappears suddenly, then the risk of illness and dehydration can become very real and very serious, very quickly.
The amount of water to have in your preparation supplies is generally said to be four liters or one gallon per person per day. Half of this amount is for drinking, and the other half is for washing food and cleaning one’s body. If you are in a hot environment, then you are likely to use up more water so additional amounts should be stored. If you don’t have enough water, then the risk of dehydration and illness will naturally increase. The length of time you should prepare for is three days, so that will mean twelve liters of water per person.
Emergency water can be stored in different types of containers, and even ones that previously held juice or carbonated beverages can be safe for use, as long as they are thoroughly cleaned first. Milk jugs, the large, plastic four liter ones, seem like the perfect container but because they are difficult to clean completely, you should not use them. Place your containers in an accessible location that is not exposed to direct sunlight. Plastic containers can deteriorate over time from the sun and thus cause contamination.
Emergency supplies of water, just like emergency food, needs to be checked on a regular basis and replaced. While canned food can generally last for one year before needing to be changed, water usually has a shorter shelf life of six months. As mentioned above, plastic containers can deteriorate over time too and this can affect the quality of the water inside. If you have bottled water, then go by the expiry date on the label. To extend the life of your water you can always put some in the freezer. If you do this, just make sure that you leave a few inches of space between the lid and the top of the water to prevent the container from cracking.
So, making sure that you have a supply of emergency water is just the first step. You then need to make sure that it is placed in appropriate containers that will not leak or deteriorate over time; you will have to find space to store enough water so that each person in your family will have twelve liters to last over three days; and you will need to have a system of replacing all that water every six months. It is an investment of time and energy, but you may be very glad you did so.
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