Water
A human can die in a few days without water. Having an immediate water
supply and filtration or purification system is a top priority when it comes to
storing supplies for emergencies. We use
water for everything from food preparation to cleaning the dishes, cleaning our
bodies, brushing our teeth and for drinking.
In a natural emergency the municipal water supply could be damaged and
you could be without water for days or even weeks. Water is one of the first
items to disappear off the store shelves when a disaster threatens. Usually before, during and after a disaster,
stores will not be able to keep water stocked due to the high demand. Without water to drink, dehydration sets in,
the body starts shutting down and then … well, it isn’t good.
Potable water is water that is safe for human consumption. It is free of disease causing microorganisms,
poisonous substances, minerals and organic matter, chemical, biological and
radioactive substances.
Many people have other types of drinks stored such as juice and sodas.
Although these are nice to have, have an ample supply of potable water.
Drinking water is the best way to keep the body hydrated.
Disaster officials suggest having a 2 week water supply per household.
Ensure you have 1 gallon of water per person per day. If there are children, nursing mothers,
elderly people or pets in your care, more water should be accounted for. Very hot temperatures can double the amount
of water needed, so take this into account as well. If medical emergencies arise, additional water
would be needed. Some people like to
play it safe and store 2 gallons per person/per day to ensure they have enough
for their family and to be used for other purposes.
Emergency tip: disposable cups,
plates and utensils will cut down on using water for cleaning.
Safely Storing Emergency Water
Keep your emergency water supply safe.
When storing water follow these tips:
• Keep emergency water in a cool, dark
place in your home, each vehicle, and your workplace.
• Like your food storage,
rotate your water supply to ensure freshness.
• Although bottled water can be stored
indefinitely (even after the “best buy” stamp), according to the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration, the bottled water’s appearance, smell or taste may change
somewhat, but the water will still be safe to consume.
• It’s possible to keep water in
food-grade containers intended for water storage. Containers must be thoroughly
washed, sanitized, and rinsed. Only
store clean, ready-to-drink water. Tap water will probably need to be purified.
Ask
public health authorities or the DWP if tap water should be used and how to
treat it. Do not use milk or juice
containers for storing water. Even if
you try to thoroughly clean these plastic containers, left over sugars and
proteins provide perfect places for bacteria to grow.
• Plastic soft drink containers can be
used in a pinch. Clean and sanitize containers before they are used.
• FEMA advises when storing water in
bottles, fill the sanitized bottle to the top with regular tap water. If the
tap water has been commercially treated with chlorine, you do not need any
further treatment. If the water comes from a well or other water source that is
not treated with chlorine, treat water with purification methods.
• Save your plastic bottles now and
freeze the water. If a disaster strikes and the electricity goes out, the
frozen bottles can be moved to the refrigerator to keep perishable food items
cold. Once thawed, you have drinking water.
Protect Your Water Sources
If there are reports of broken water or sewage lines or if local
authorities advise you of a problem, steps should be taken to protect your
water sources.
To close the incoming water source, locate the incoming valve and turn
it to the closed position. Be sure you and other family members know how to perform
this important procedure. Check with the
DWP and other local sources.
How Do I Find More Water?
When water runs out, the race is on to find available and safe drinking
water. There are places around the house
where safe drinking water can be found.
Safe Sources
• Melted ice cubes
• Water drained from the
water heater (if the water heater has not been damaged)
To use
the water in your hot-water tank, be sure the electricity or gas is off, and
open the drain at the bottom of the tank. Start the water flowing by turning
off the water intake valve at the tank and turning on the hot water
faucet. Refill the tank before turning
the gas or electricity back on. If the
gas is turned off, a professional will be needed to turn it back on.
Tip: If you remove water from the hot-water tank,
play it safe and treat the water.
• Liquids from canned
goods such as fruit or vegetable juices.
Unsafe Sources
• Radiators
• Hot water boilers (home
heating system)
• Water beds (fungicides added to the
water or chemicals in the vinyl may make water unsafe)
• Water from the toilet
bowl
• Swimming pools and spas. Chemicals used to kill germs are too
concentrated for safe drinking but can be used for personal hygiene, cleaning,
and related uses (source – www.fema.gov).
Rain, clean
snow, lakes, ponds and natural water sources are another way to find drinking
water. However, the water must be
treated in order to drink. The U.S. EPA
states that 90% of the world’s natural water supply is contaminated. If any
water looks suspicious, put it aside and drink the good water first. If the suspicious looking water is going to
be used, it should be treated.
Water Treatments
Water is only as safe as its source.
When there is any doubt about the quality of water to drink, treat
it. It is better to be safe than to have
the possibility of ingesting unsafe drinking water. Treating the water will eliminate any
microorganisms and the possibility of contaminants in the water. Microorganisms such as protozoa, bacteria and
viruses can make a person very ill. Some
cases of water contamination have even caused death. Some of the symptoms caused by drinking
contaminated water are: severe gas,
diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, headache and weakness.
Epidemics such as cholera and typhoid have begun as a result of
contaminated drinking water. Making sure
the water is safe is not only safe for the person consuming it, but also for
the people in your local area.
Sanitizing treatments:
· Boiling
is the easiest and safest method of treating water. Bring the water to a
rolling boil for 1 full minute, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate.
Let the water cool before drinking. Boiled water will taste better if you put
oxygen back into it by pouring the water back and forth between two clean
containers. This also will improve the
taste of stored water.
· Distillation
involves boiling water and then collecting only the vapor that condenses. The
condensed vapor will not include salt or most other impurities. To distill,
fill a pot halfway full with water. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot’s lid so
that the cup will hang right-side-up when the lid is upside-down (make sure the
cup is not dangling into the water) and boil the water for 20 minutes. The
water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.
Here are a few YouTube videos that would be helpful in creating a
distiller for water:
· Homemade
Water Distiller
· Solar
Powered Water Distiller
Using Bleach
• Filter the water using
a piece of cloth or a coffee filter to remove solid particles.
• Bring it to a rolling
boil for about one full minute.
• Let it cool at least 30 minutes.
Water must be cool or the chlorine treatment described below will be useless.
• Add 16 drops of liquid
chlorine bleach per gallon of water, or 8 drops per 2-liter bottle of water.
Stir to mix. Sodium hypochlorite of the concentration of 5.25% to 6% should be
the only active ingredient in the bleach. There should not be any added soap or
fragrances. Make sure the bleach is fragrance free before it is used. Let stand 30 minutes. If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, add 16 more
drops of chlorine bleach per gallon of water (or 8 drops per 2-liter bottle of
water), let stand 30 minutes, and smell it again. If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, discard it
and find another source of water.
Iodine tablets
Iodine must be stored in a dark container so that sunlight does not ruin
the tablets. Iodine has been shown to be
more effective than chlorine treatments.
Follow the recommended instructions suggested by the manufacturer. Beware: some people are allergic to iodine
and would not be able to use this form of water purification. Persons with thyroid problems or on lithium,
women over fifty, and pregnant women should consult their physician prior to
using iodine for purification. Also,
some people who are allergic to shellfish are also allergic to iodine. If someone cannot use iodine, use another
method.
Micropur tablets
These are the only disinfection system effective against viruses, bacteria,
cryptosporidium, and giardia. Follow the
instructions recommended by the manufacturer.
These tablets have no residual chemical taste.
Water Filters
Anytime that water for the home has been interrupted, it is a good idea
to use a good water filter to prevent ingesting harmful parasites. If you are out in nature and need to purify
water, try and find a running water source as opposed to a standing water
source. Using a water purification
tablets in conjunction with a water filter is a good way of making sure that
water is potable and ready to drink.
Water pumps may not remove viruses and at times giardia cysts, therefore
if at all possible, treat the water.
Water filters come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some things to look for when
purchasing:
• Find a system that captures bacteria
and has effective filters to capture cryptosporidium and giardia.
• Consider output and how
much physical effort is involved from pumping.
• Try and find a filter
that can attach directly to your bottle.
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