Long Term Water Storage Basics
We have all been busy accumulating our emergency supplies and food storage for the time of need, when an emergency or disaster situation arises. If something should happen such as a big storm or earthquake, economic disruption, pandemic or whatever, you could be on your own for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Could you be self-sufficient for 2 months, 6 months or even year! If so, don’t forget the main essential: WATER.
Having clean drinking water is one of the most important and crucial components of emergency preparedness. Water that we take for granted when things are normal becomes absolutely critical in times of an emergency. Even a temporary shutoff can be far more inconvenient than you might realize. There are many emergency situations and events that could cause our water supply to become unavailable or undrinkable. If widespread power outages occur, water may not flow and treatment plants may not be working properly.
For drinking purposes 1/2 gallon per person per day is the minimum requirement. Most of that food you’ve been stockpiling requires water to reconstitute, foods like rice, beans and powdered soups. You will need another 1/2 gallon for food preparation, to clean utensils and for minimal personal hygiene. The bottom line is you need a bare minimum of one gallon per person per day or fourteen gallons per person for two weeks. It is recommended that you have two gallons of water per person per day.
Water stored improperly can be hazardous to your health. The safest containers to hold water in are polyethylene-based plastics, or plastics #1, #2, and #4. This type of food grade plastic is good for long-term storage and is BPA-free. Light and air are not good for storing water. For long-term storage, always use opaque, airtight containers and store them in cool, dark spaces.
Water can be stored for a very long time if prepared properly, 6 months or longer, depending on the preparation method. Here we have two different thoughts for your consideration.
If you use regular tap water, it’s already treated right. Then there’s no need to add any additional chemicals to it when it’s just going to be sitting in a container. If your water needs treatment, do so at the point of using it, not prior to storing it.
Or
You can add un-scented Clorox, Purex or a generic brand of chlorine bleach from the grocery store, not the kind of chlorine you put in swimming pool. One teaspoon of bleach will disinfect five gallons of water. Three tablespoons will disinfect 55 gallons of water. This level of treatment will kill bacteria and viruses and prevent the growth of microorganisms during storage. If properly stored, water doesn’t spoil. What makes water go bad is contamination that gets into it. If you take proper precautions in cleaning the container, sealing and storing your water so that bacteria or other contaminants don’t get into it, your water could theoretically stay good forever.
It is recommended that you rotate your water at least once a year for freshness and check your water supply monthly to ensure that leaks or contamination have not occurred. A two-week supply of water is a good start. However long-term survival will require at least a 6 month supply of water.
Do you have your emergency preparations in order for your family? At Get Real Essentials we have a wide selection of emergency preparedness items. We are more than a product site, we are a solutions site. It’s your home for Emergency Preparedness. Stay prepared for anything with high quality products from www.getrealessentials.com, where we put your needs in life as our #1 concern. Being Prepared, It Just Makes Good Sense!