A person can go five weeks or more without food, but can survive only a few days without water. Since water is essential for life, we should always have an adequate supply on hand to provide for an emergency that might interrupt the safe water supply to our homes. Water for drinking, cooling and sanitation is so abundant in the modern home that it is taken for granted. We expect to see water rushing from our taps whenever we turn them on. We need to be prepared for many circumstances, ranging from repair work on the water main to an earthquake, to contaminated water. In such cases, an emergency supply of water stored at home can be of great value.

How much water should we store:

Various sources recommend storing a two week supply of water. The amount often recommended is seven (7) gallons per person for drinking and food preparation, and another seven (7) gallons per person for other limited uses such as hand washing, tooth brushing, and dish washing (total 14 gallons per person for two weeks). If most of your stored food supply is dehydrated food, store more to accommodate your food supply.

How to Store Water:

Polyethylene plastic (and plastic bleach bottles) make most ideal storage containers. They are clean, unbreakable and portable. (Plastic milk bottles are too thin and will develop leaks.) The permeability of plastics can be a problem if hydrocarbon vapors are present. Consequently, water stored in plastic containers should not be located near gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, or similar substances. Such vapors could permeate the plastic and affect the water. Polyethylene plastics vary in density, and containers made from them vary in thickness. Both density and thickness affect permeability.

Be certain, when selecting a storage container, for water, that it has a tight fitting cap or lid to prevent entrance of contaminants and evaporation of water. Because sunlight has an adverse effect on plastic, water should be stored away from direct exposure to sunlight. If bleach bottles are used, be sure and take label off and write *water* in large letters across the bottle. This is to prevent small children from getting a certain shape, size, and color container mixed up with the bleach bottle. If you store water in glass jars, put them in boxes with cardboard dividers or wrap each jar in several layers of newspaper. Then place boxes on the floor to minimize breakage.

Place two (2) drops of chlorine bleach per quart of water into the water when it is stored.

After the chlorine has been added to water, stir and let stand for 30 minutes. The mixture should have a distinct chorine taste and smell. If it doesn't repeat the does and let stand for 15 minutes. If you cannot detect the smell or taste after this time, do not use it. The chlorine may have been weakened by time, heat or contamination.

How to prevent leakage:

The following precautions should be taken:

1. Use undamaged containers. Dented, bent, or crushed containers should not be used. Wherever the thin plastic is damaged by a crease, it is more likely to begin to leak.
   Store plastic containers on a smooth, flat surface. If they are placed on a sharp pebble, the edge of a board or on wire mesh shelves, the plastic may be slowly ruptured and begin to leak.
   
2. Plastic containers should be stored only in a single layer. When plastic containers are stacked one-upon-another, the weight of the top layers slowly crush the lower layers, causing them to leak.
   
3. Plastic containers should be filled full at storage time and inspected periodically (about every six months) to see if any have begun to leak.

Methods of Water Purification

The Five basic methods are:

1. Filtration
2. Chemical Treatment
3. Freezing
4. Distillation
5. Boiling

Filtration:

Recently there are some compact filter systems which have come on the market which are very good and not too expensive. The filtration unit usually has charcoal granules for filtering the water. There are small, portable units which will provide clear, safe drinking water. These inexpensive water purifiers provide safe drinking water for pennies per gallon. There are several competitive brands, and their prices are short of alarming!

Chemical Treatment:

When this method is used alone, such as Halazone tablets, the foreign particles are still in the water. The chemical tastes also leaves a lot to be desired. Any household bleach solution containing hypochlorite, a chlorine compound, will purify water easily and inexpensively. CAUTION: Be sure hypochlorite is the only active ingredient. Refer to the attached chart for amounts to use.

Freezing:

This method is usually combined with a membrane type filter and is done commercially with equipment that is too expensive to be practical.

Distillation:

This method again requires equipment that is special to this method and as well, a heat source that may or may not be available. This is not too practical for home use.

Boiling:

The safest method to purify water is to boil it vigorously for two to three minutes to destroy bacteria. To improve the taste of the water after boiling, pour the boiled water between two containers several times to aerate it. Cool, or add ice to improve the palatability.

Summary:

Home storage of an emergency water supply can be accomplished in clean glass or food-contact-approved plastic containers, for example: disposable, gallon size, polyethylene-plastic, milk bottles. For long-term storage, water should be either sterilized by boiling temperatures or disinfected with liquid chlorine bleach. Properly stored water should not need replacement unless it becomes contaminated in some way.

In an emergency situation, water can be sterilized by hearing to boiling in a vigorous, rolling boil for five (5) minutes. Chemical disinfecting of perfectly clear water can be accomplished with sodium hypochlorite solution, by thoroughly mixing 16 drops or 1/4 tsp. Of 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite solution (Clorox or Purex type liquid chlorine bleach) into each gallon of water and allowing the mixture to stand for 30 minutes before using. Treated water should have a slight chlorine odor; if not, repeat the treatment and let stand for an additional 15 minutes. Only fresh bleach should be used for water disinfecting. For disinfecting water with special water purification tablets, follow label instructions carefully, using fresh tablets only.

No presently known home water "purification" device can be fully relied on to "purify" grossly contaminated water.

Water contamination with toxic chemicals or radioactive materials should be avoided entirely!