Each month we will have one item to focus on for our food storage and we are beginning this month with WATER. The most necessary element of your preparedness program is safe drinking water!! You could probably live for two weeks – perhaps as long as four weeks – without food, but you can live only a few days without water.
How Much Water To Store?
Consider storing only what is required to provide the amount of water for your family’s basic subsistence (drinking water only) or for basic maintenance (drinking water + minimal food preparation, cleaning, etc.) for a defined amount of time, such as 2 weeks.
Basic Subsistence-Level Water Storage Requirements
A normally active person needs to drink 2 quarts of water per day – and more is better during emergency periods. To meet the minimum basic subsistence-level storage requirements plus basic personal needs – cooking some food, brushing teeth, washing face, hands, etc. – store at least 1 gallon for each family member per day for a 2-week period.
Basic Maintenance-Level Water Storage Requirements
Basic maintenance-level water storage requirements differ from basic subsistence-level requirements by the addition of water reserves to do some of the normally water-intensive chores – cooking and preparing food, cleaning utensils/equipment, and washing the body – without taking a bath! It’s only slightly above basic subsistence level water storage requirements.
The recommended amount of water for basic maintenance-level storage requirements is 2 gallons for each family member per day for a 2-week period.
Treating Contaminated Water
Boiling Method
Boil water at a rolling boil for at least 10 minutes to render it potable!
Disinfecting Methods
Chlorine and iodine are used to kill waterborne microorganisms. Chlorine and iodine are equally easy and effective.
Basic Bleach Method
For emergency treating of water of unknown quality, use any household bleach containing sodium hypochlorite (5.25% solution) without soap additives or phosphates. By using common household bleach as a chemical treatment method, large amounts of safe drinking water can be provided quite inexpensively.
How Much Water To Store?
Consider storing only what is required to provide the amount of water for your family’s basic subsistence (drinking water only) or for basic maintenance (drinking water + minimal food preparation, cleaning, etc.) for a defined amount of time, such as 2 weeks.
Basic Subsistence-Level Water Storage Requirements
A normally active person needs to drink 2 quarts of water per day – and more is better during emergency periods. To meet the minimum basic subsistence-level storage requirements plus basic personal needs – cooking some food, brushing teeth, washing face, hands, etc. – store at least 1 gallon for each family member per day for a 2-week period.
Basic Maintenance-Level Water Storage Requirements
Basic maintenance-level water storage requirements differ from basic subsistence-level requirements by the addition of water reserves to do some of the normally water-intensive chores – cooking and preparing food, cleaning utensils/equipment, and washing the body – without taking a bath! It’s only slightly above basic subsistence level water storage requirements.
The recommended amount of water for basic maintenance-level storage requirements is 2 gallons for each family member per day for a 2-week period.
Treating Contaminated Water
Boiling Method
Boil water at a rolling boil for at least 10 minutes to render it potable!
Disinfecting Methods
Chlorine and iodine are used to kill waterborne microorganisms. Chlorine and iodine are equally easy and effective.
Basic Bleach Method
For emergency treating of water of unknown quality, use any household bleach containing sodium hypochlorite (5.25% solution) without soap additives or phosphates. By using common household bleach as a chemical treatment method, large amounts of safe drinking water can be provided quite inexpensively.
Follow these simple instructions:
1. Add bleach to water in container
Water Quantity/Water Conditions/5.25% Sodium Hypochlorite
1 Quart/Clear/2 drops
1 Quart/Cloudy/4 drops
½ Gallon/Clear/4 drops
½ Gallon/Cloudy/8 drops
1 Gallon/Clear/8 drops
1 Gallon/Cloudy/16 drops
5 Gallons/Clear/½ teaspoon
5 Gallons/Cloudy/1 teaspoon
120 Gallons/Clear/2 ounces
120 Gallons/Cloudy/4 ounces
Mixture should still have a distinct chlorine taste or smell after waiting period. If chlorine smell is not detected, add same dose of the solution to the water and let mixture stand for an additional 15-20 minutes.
2. Thoroughly mix bleach in water by stirring briskly
3. Let mixture stand for at least 30 minutes
Basic Iodine Method
Tincture of iodine (2%) can be used to treat small quantities of water. Be sure to stir thoroughly when mixing iodine into the water resource.
Chemical disinfecting by iodine requires these precautions:
1. Iodine treatment has a peculiar odor and taste some people just cannot tolerate
2. Water treated with iodine should not be utilized by pregnant or nursing women
3. People with thyroid problems should not ingest iodine-treated water
Basic Iodine Water Treatment Method
Water Quality/Water Condition/Quantity of 2% Iodine
1 Quart/Clear/3 drops
1 Quart/Cloudy/6 drops
½ Gallon/Clear/6 drops
½ Gallon/Cloudy/12 drops
1 Gallon/Clear/12 drops
1 Gallon/Cloudy/24 drops
The presence of the iodine taste or smell is a sign of safety. If you cannot detect either the taste or smell after water is treated, don’t use it! The iodine may have become weakened by either time, heat, or contamination.
Shelf Life of Stored Water
Water that is bacteria-free when stored in thoroughly clean containers will remain safe for several years. Tests of water quality after long-term storage showed that water stored properly for several years could not be distinguished by appearance, taste, or odor from water recently drawn from the same source. However, the principle of rotation is the best guarantee for monitoring stored water’s purity and taste.
In the book, Making The Best of Basics by James Talmage Stevens (My Source for the above information), one important recommendation is: Rotate! Rotate! Rotate! We can’t emphasize this enough! Rotate your water supply as a means of continuously checking its quality and shelf life.
1. Add bleach to water in container
Water Quantity/Water Conditions/5.25% Sodium Hypochlorite
1 Quart/Clear/2 drops
1 Quart/Cloudy/4 drops
½ Gallon/Clear/4 drops
½ Gallon/Cloudy/8 drops
1 Gallon/Clear/8 drops
1 Gallon/Cloudy/16 drops
5 Gallons/Clear/½ teaspoon
5 Gallons/Cloudy/1 teaspoon
120 Gallons/Clear/2 ounces
120 Gallons/Cloudy/4 ounces
Mixture should still have a distinct chlorine taste or smell after waiting period. If chlorine smell is not detected, add same dose of the solution to the water and let mixture stand for an additional 15-20 minutes.
2. Thoroughly mix bleach in water by stirring briskly
3. Let mixture stand for at least 30 minutes
Basic Iodine Method
Tincture of iodine (2%) can be used to treat small quantities of water. Be sure to stir thoroughly when mixing iodine into the water resource.
Chemical disinfecting by iodine requires these precautions:
1. Iodine treatment has a peculiar odor and taste some people just cannot tolerate
2. Water treated with iodine should not be utilized by pregnant or nursing women
3. People with thyroid problems should not ingest iodine-treated water
Basic Iodine Water Treatment Method
Water Quality/Water Condition/Quantity of 2% Iodine
1 Quart/Clear/3 drops
1 Quart/Cloudy/6 drops
½ Gallon/Clear/6 drops
½ Gallon/Cloudy/12 drops
1 Gallon/Clear/12 drops
1 Gallon/Cloudy/24 drops
The presence of the iodine taste or smell is a sign of safety. If you cannot detect either the taste or smell after water is treated, don’t use it! The iodine may have become weakened by either time, heat, or contamination.
Shelf Life of Stored Water
Water that is bacteria-free when stored in thoroughly clean containers will remain safe for several years. Tests of water quality after long-term storage showed that water stored properly for several years could not be distinguished by appearance, taste, or odor from water recently drawn from the same source. However, the principle of rotation is the best guarantee for monitoring stored water’s purity and taste.
In the book, Making The Best of Basics by James Talmage Stevens (My Source for the above information), one important recommendation is: Rotate! Rotate! Rotate! We can’t emphasize this enough! Rotate your water supply as a means of continuously checking its quality and shelf life.
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