Yesterday we talked about how we all know the basic ideas behind having food storage. One of the biggest reasons is that it helps us be prepared for times when shopping might be impossible, too hard or too expensive. We all seem to focus on food and household items. Those are some of the most important things. Yet, I think there is something that we all would agree is as important as food. We need to store water. If your normal water source becomes unavailable or if you are unsure about its fitness to drink, you will need an alternative clean water supply for drinking, food preparation, and personal hygiene. There are many guidelines for storing water.

The following are the general guidelines for storing water.

Families should store enough clean water to allow each person in the household to use 1 to 1.5 gallons each day.

Increase the amount of water stored when there are children, sick people, nursing mothers, or pets in the household.

Families should store a minimum of a 3-day supply of water.

For Example: A four-person household would need to store 18 gallons of water. That’s 1.5 gallons per person per day for 3 days.

If you think about it; that really beings to sound like a lot of water to store. We need to think and talk about some methods of storing water. What are the guidelines for storing water? What containers should be used? Where should water be stored?

First there are some basic guidelines for storing water:

1. Label all containers as “drinking water” and include storage date.
2. Replace stored water that is not commercially bottled every six months.
3. Keep stored water in a place with a fairly constant cool temperature.
4. Do not store water containers in direct sunlight.

What containers should we use to store our water?

1. Unopened commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable emergency water supply.

2. Food-grade water storage containers, such as those found at surplus or camping supply stores, are recommended if you prepare stored water yourself.

Are there containers that should be avoided when storing water?

1. Containers that cannot be sealed tightly or that can break.
2. Do not use containers that have ever been used for any toxic chemicals.
3. Plastic bottles and containers that were used for milk or fruit juices.

Are there other sources of water to consider in an emergency?

1. If you have time, fill the bathtub with water. Be sure to keep doors to the bathroom closed and locked if there are small children in the home. The full tub could be a drowning hazard. The tub water will be useful for hygiene and cleaning. It could also be filtered or boiled for drinking.
2. Use the water in your water heater if needed. Most guidelines for storing water suggest this as an excellent resource. If there is risk of contaminated water entering the tank, turn the water off to the water heater. Do not let contaminated water fill the water heater. Turn off the heat source as the tank empties.