How to Store an Emergency Water Supply
How to store water for your emergency water supply is one of the most frequently asked questions along with:
How do you purify water for storage?
Where am I going to store emergency water - it takes up a lot of space and it's heavy.
How much Emergency Water IS enough?
Frustration and fears of disease mounted ...as 36,000 people were left without water...
A person can survive without food for several weeks, but can only survive without water for a few days; which is one reason why it is important to have an emergency water supply.
We are a spoiled society, particularly in the U.S. We are used to having water fit to drink, bathe in, and cook with, just come out of the tap when we turn it on. A natural disaster could easily disrupt that, like an earthquake that breaks main water pipes.
If or when a disaster happens, we should consider all water contaminated whether it comes from your home pipes, a cistern, a well or otherwise. (See water supplies after a nuclear attack.)
Did you know that the water in your home pipes is dependent on electricity? No electricity - no water being pumped into your home. Since most of us don't live by a stream or have our own well, we must find a way to have an emergency water supply on hand.
In order to have drinkable water in an emergency, we will need to think about water storage barrels, water purification, filtration, and also, where to store it.
Once you have your water barrels, click here to learn how to clean, prepare and fill them. How much is enough?
FEMA and other emergency services recommend that we have at least a two-week emergency water supply on hand at all times. Bare-bones survival rations would be 1/2 gallon per person per day just for drinking and minimal food preparation purposes. You might not think that you drink that much in a day, but I'll bet if you added up all the water, juice, milk, soft drinks, broth, and other liquids, you would be close to consuming 1/2 gallon. In an emergency, you may find that you want more liquid than in regular circumstances.
In addition to drinking water, you will need 1/2 gallon per person per day for other uses, such as brushing teeth, washing dishes, etc. So 1 gallon per person per day is the bare minimum. On a regular day, you may wash several gallons of water down the drain as you rinse the dinner dishes. In an emergency situation, you will have to keep a watchful eye on the amount used for those purposes. A wet cloth wipe-up may be all your dishes get.
One gallon per person per day is a good general starting amount, but you may need more than that. Take into consideration the specific needs of your family.
Do you have a baby in your house? How much water do you need for preparing formula or baby food? Since babies sometimes spit up and make messes, you'll need sufficient water to clean up.
Active teenagers usually drink more liquids than adults. Make sure to store plenty of water for active teens.
Is any member of your family an invalid or chronically ill? Do they have an increased need for water to take medications or for personal care?
Do you have pets? If so, you'll need to plan additional water for them.
If the majority of your storage foods are dry or dehydrated, you'll need more water for preparation of those foods.
Do you live in an area where extreme heat is a regular occurrence? Everyone will need more water if that is your situation.
Are you accustomed to drinking more water for good health? If so, cutting back drastically, especially in a time of crisis, could be very difficult physically.
Where is there already water in your home?
If an earthquake or other catastrophe happened right now, before you've had a chance to acquire your emergency water supply, where could you find some?
The hot-water heater is the first place to go. There is clean, drinkable water there. Depending on the size of your water heater, there should be 20-50 gallons. The trick is to get it out. Have a bucket handy and put it under the drain faucet. Then open a water faucet in a sink nearby to release the pressure and cause the water to flow.
A word of caution: Before using the water from your water heater, it is imperative that you switch off the gas or electricity that heats the water. Leaving the heating part on while the water heater is empty could cause an explosion or burn out the elements, destroying your water heater. Don't turn on the water heater again until water services have been restored and the water heater is refilled.
There is also water in your pipes that can be used. Open a water faucet in the highest part of the house and then drain the pipes from the lowest faucet in the house.
If the emergency is an earthquake or an landslide, you may have to turn off your water from outside the house to avoid contamination to the water inside your water heater and pipes.
Then there is the toilet tank (not the bowl). There is about 3 to 5 gallons of clean water in each tank. You can dip it out with a cup or ladle. If you are a little squeamish about drinking water from the toilet tank, use that water for your pet or for cleanliness.
Don't forget the liquids in most canned goods. Canned fruit, vegetables or broth have liquid that can be used to cook with or to drink if absolutely necessary.
A swimming pool or hot tub is a good source of emergency water supply, but use only as gray water for washing. Since there are chemicals in the pool and tub, they are not a good source for drinking water.
Water beds also have chemicals in the water to retard germ and algae growth. Use the water for washing only.
Make a list of all the available sources for your emergency water supply. Keep it handy with all your other emergency supply lists. Related Topics
How to Clean, Prepare and Fill Water Barrels How to Purify Water How to Store Water