Is anyone storing water?

[Jeff]

Just curious if anyone is storing potable water. What's your plan?

How will you replenish your supply, if needed?

[ian]

We are not right now but Plan to.

[Jeff]

do you have a plan yet? I'd be interested to hear what you are thinking about doing.

[ian]

I don't yet. I'd like to do a couple of things though. I'd really like to collect rainwater as well as storing drinking water. I'm not sure about how to do either properly.

[Jeff]

The Preparedness Podcast recently had an episode on this that was pretty good.

Honestly, storing a lot of drinking water seems somewhat problematic to me, unless you own a frickin' warehouse. Enough for a week or two is doable, but much more than that, difficult! It's amazing how much water we use...

One thing I learned from this podcast is that bleach has a relatively short shelf life, which I am glad I learned because I had planned on stocking up at costco. Instead they recommend a powdered pool bleach product, which you can dissolve to create the correct strength as chlorine bleach and then just use that. The powder has a much longer shelf life (MUCH longer).

My thought was to have one of those potable water containers with the metal cage (you can get them at Tri State) and then a barrel or two to collect rainwater. Between the bleach and my berkey, creating drinkable water shouldn't be an issue.

Of course, summers could suck at times...

I shudder to think of the situation that would shut down the water system. Man that would suck hard.

[Billy Bob]

I have a mormon friend who gave us a good idea that we have been employing. It isn't for drinking water, but for water you would need for washing clothes, dishes, etc.

Whenever you use up a container, such as for laundry detergent, dish soap, bleach bottles, etc, fill up the bottle with water without rinsing it first. CLEARLY LABEL IT, and date it, and store it away.

We have been doing this a while now and have quite a bit of cleaning water. Of course this would be for when we would be in completely dire straights, confined to our home. Otherwise hopefully we could run down to a river.

[Jeff]

Yes, most people refer to this as "Grey" water... and you would be shocked how much water we use that does not have to be potable but we use for dozens of different things daily.

[The Grand Pooh-Bah]

We have a 1000 gallon cistern, spring, creek and numerous purification systems, H2O will not be an issue.

[ebrahem7227]

I have info for people who want to make their own distilliry, as well as having as much as they would ever need with regards to water.
I think storing water is one of the most important things, we should all do that at least a few months worth to start. Remember it took FEMA a long time to get water to the super dome! we should all be prepared to look after our family and friends.

[JeffDubya]

I am not currently storing water, although it is something I have given a great deal of thought to. One thing that I would mention that I have learned that did surprise me was that chlorine bleach (e.g. COLOROX) has an AMAZINGLY SHORT shelf life. And since chlorine is a key component for keeping bacteria and pathogens out of stored water, this could become an issue. Apparently there is a recipe for making bleach (not really a recipe, more like mixing instructions) for GRANULATED chlorine, like for a pool. I had it and I am looking for it to post it here.

Although I have not implemented anything yet, my plan involves a single, large, potable water container like they sell at tri-state for about $75 that includes the structural aluminum basket. I would also like to design a runoff system to collect the water from my roof, which could then be purified using my Berkey or to replenish my reservoir.

I don't think it would EVER be possible to store enough water. However, there's a lot of logistical issues to deal with, space and potable containers being the LEAST of your worries.

You also need to make certain that you use an appropriate hose for filling any containers you own. Your average run-of-the-mill garden hose is not appropriate for potable water.

[gemstatemom]

Is it because of the manufacturing process of garden hoses?

Are you saying it isn't safe to drink water from the end of a hose?

Just curious, as I have heard mention of this, but never understood what the concern was about water from garden hoses.

Thanks,
P

[JeffDubya]

The materials garden hoses are made from are not compliant with potable water standards. As such, these materials/chemicals may leech into whatever water you might consume.

Personally, I would guess that if EVERY gallon of water you were to EVER drink came from a garden hose you MIGHT suffer some kind of ill-effects, this information may be a result of propaganda disseminated by our wonderful nanny state, but on the other hand, never hurts to be aware.

http://containergardening.about.com/od/greencontainergardening/a/Gardenhose.htm

[JeffDubya]

http://www.thegreenhead.com/2008/07/drink-safe-garden-hose.php

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-lead-free-garden-hose.htm

[Ooben]

We have 2 55 gal drums in the garage and a creek that runs all year at the end of our property. I bought a hose from a mobile trailer supply house, it is supposed to eliminate all the nasties that come from a regular garden hose, which by the way I have been drinking out of since I was a kid, hasn't caused me any problems that I know of......but then, now that I think about it...:-B
Mike

[bboop1934]

I'm canning water in quart jars & storing them in the cellar. Hopefully, this is good enough to keep bacteria out. We have a Rain Soft system that is supposed to take the impurities out of the water.

[gemstatemom]

Betty,
This is very intriging. Are you hot-water bathing them or using boiling water? I have a number of 1.5 and 2 quart jars that I usually use for my dried fruit. I may can water in them instead.

Interesting enough, when we moved into our current home, I found a 2 quart sealed jar with clear liquid. I have never opened it to see if it is some sort of fuel - like kerosene - or if it is plain water. Not sure I would be willing to taste it!! So it sits unopened on the cellar shelf. Won't toss it - won't open it.

Which is to say - make sure you label your jars clearly with the contents! LOL

thanks for sharing a very good idea.

I wonder, if a situation was dire, how much water can a body survive on for a daily ration. gonna go google a bit.

Paula B.

[gemstatemom]

I found this resource on essentials of sea survival.

They state the ideal minimum daily allowance per person is 1 quart, but that quantity is unlikely in sea survival situations. One analysis from WWII situations (published in 1956) was 4-6 oz. per day per person while following personal water conservation techniques (use shade to minimize perspiration loss, etc.)

so - I'm going to go for a quart per family member. Just helps in making plans.

http://books.google.com/books?id=voG0CtDBKMwC&pg=PA146&lpg=PA146&dq=minimum+daily+ration+of+water+for+survival&source=bl&ots=06XRY6Ywvc&sig=DKiozRpzSzHBnSOmSJzu-t5ScxQ&hl=en&ei=3b8dSsOyEJ2ctgOd_ayLCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2

[bboop1934]

Thanks for the labeling idea....as I get older, I will probably get more confused, so labeling will be critical!

[bboop1934]

Oh, & I use my old Mirro pressure cooker.

[JeffDubya]

Paula... in all the stuff I have read over the past year, that number is VERY low. 2-3 gallons per person per day is the going number.

[gemstatemom]

Jeff - is that total water use - or only drinking water?

I was thinking purely drinking water alone. Nobody needs 2-3 gallons per day, surely?

[gemstatemom]

spent some time talking to my neighbor about water issues.

He spent a number of years as a health officer and he thought the bleach does not lose it's properties unless exposed to air. He said he could smell a change in the smell of bleach when it had been degraded, but said he was not aware of any 'shelf date' on sealed jugs of bleach.

I have never looked, but plan to. And will try to do more research on this subject.

I appreciate this discussion and hearing info that we can study and research about. Thanks everyone for your contributions.

Paula B.

[gemstatemom]

interesting.

According to the Chlorox website, bottles of bleach not stored in high-heat (90 degrees) or direct sunlight will be considered effective for 9-12 months. They don't state if leaving the bottle 'factory sealed' makes any different to the shelf life.

That's a pretty limited life. I understand why Jeff is advising the dry chlorine. I'd assume that it also requires careful storage conditions to maintain its effectiveness.

the search continues...


Paula B.

[JeffDubya]

Total use... cooking, etc. But if you don't have water to cook with, that's a problem...

[gemstatemom]

yes - well...you can see I am new to this prep stuff! I got my 1 quart figure from a "survival at sea" resource that was only considering basic survival - not the niceties of cooking and washing! I'm thinking they are eating sushi, not worrying about cooking, and washing isn't usually as issue in a vast ocean! LOL

I found a bit more info on purifying water here
http://www.countrysidemag.com/issues/83/83-1/Countryside_Staff1.html


this below is interesting ...I want to look more into this as I hate the taste of chlorine:
Stabilized oxygen

People who have used this method generally prefer it to chlorine or iodine. Both treatments have shown some side effects if used for an extended period of time, and iodine and chlorine give water an off taste. Stabilized oxygen doesn't have side effects or add unpleasant flavors to water, and it also offers health benefits.
For long-term storage, treat one gallon of chlorinated water by adding 10 drops of stabilized oxygen. Add 20 drops if the water hasn't been chlorinated. Use five to 20 drops per eight-ounce cup of giardia-contaminated water.
Stabilized oxygen is the new kid on the block in water purification, so it isn't as widely known as other methods. Among the chlorine dioxide (a form of stabilized oxygen) products on the market are Aerox, Genesis 1000, Dynamo 2, Aerobic 07 and Aquagen.


anyone heard of or tried any of the products mentioned above?


Paula B.

[JeffDubya]

Haven't heard of that one.

For me, as long as I am drinking... I could deal with a touch of "off" taste. If we ever got to the point that our stored water became a staple, be prepared to learn to enjoy a lot of "off" flavors.

Raccoon and squirrel, for example LOL :D

[gemstatemom]

If you are talking eating, I can handle that - loved creamed squirrel growing up. Like rabbit, only more fun to eat.

drinking raccoon flavored water? hmmm...not so much.

Besides, how many times do you have to dunk a raccoon in a barrel in order to 'steep' the flavor?

eeeeeuuuwwwwww!