Water Storage and Usage Tips
If you decide that you’re going to set aside storage containers filled with water before a crisis hits, that’s an excellent idea. Some people will take the time to pre-treat this water before putting it into the container.
That’s a waste of resources. If you get the water from your faucet, you don’t have to purify it before storing it. The water that comes into your home has already been treated and is safe to drink as it is.
You should use something like WaterBrick Water Storage Containers to make sure that you have a solid supply of water for yourself and your family. There are plenty of types of water containers on the market but the reason that you want to get this kind is because they can hold a lot of water in just a little bit of space.
When you’re rotating out your water, any water that has absorbed an odor is not useless. If you can’t get the taste of the water to such a degree that you can stand to drink it, don’t waste it.
Use it to water plants or set it aside as emergency water to be used for flushing the toilets. Just make sure that you label it that way. Water that goes through a purifying system, even if that water has developed a taste, can usually be returned to drinking status.
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, water can still become contaminated. The standard advice seems to be that in order for water to become safe to consume, it has to be boiled for awhile before anyone can use it.
Water doesn’t have to be boiled for awhile. It only has to reach a certain temperature to kill off bacteria and other things that would make you ill. There is a mistake among some people who store water in how the water is stored.
Many people think that water shouldn’t be stored in things like soda bottles that have been washed and prepped for water. It’s thought that any plastic jug would somehow pass the chemicals used in the plastic process into the water over time as it’s stored.
But that’s not true. Water will not be changed by any plastic container unless that container held harmful chemicals such as pesticides, bleach or other dangerous toxic material.
You can keep water tasting as it was originally and as safe as it was originally if you closely monitor the amount of heat the water is exposed to. It’s the temperature change that damages your water’s viability.
There is a debate on whether or not you can safely store water in plastic milk jugs. Some experts say that you can’t get a milk jug clean enough for water to be safely stored which opens the door for contaminants.
However, if you don’t have anything else to use and can’t afford to buy water storage containers, you can use milk jugs in a pinch as long as you do purify the water before you drink it.
When an emergency does hit and you’re ready to use the water that you have stored or that you’ve brought into your home, the purification method that you use can vary.
You should already have whatever method you’re going to use all planned out. If something happens to your water purifying method, it’s always best to have a backup plan.
However, if you don’t have anything that can purify the water, you can use household bleach. But be aware that bleach doesn’t always kill off every type of bacteria.
That’s why it’s best to have a better method. If you absolutely have to use bleach, for every gallon of water you use, put in 16 drops. After you put the drops in, let the water sit and check on it in 10 minutes.
The water should be clear and though there may be a slight chlorine scent and taste, it should be okay to drink. When you use bleach to purify water, always make sure the bleach is the plain kind.
Never use bleach that has any type of perfume or added scent since these chemicals are not safe to drink. And don’t put too much bleach into the water because that can be dangerous to your health.
Remember, most uninformed survivalists focus on food and weaponry when it comes to prepping, and water is the most important primary need your family will have.
Make sure you buy filtering systems for each member of your family and then begin storing water around your property for availability in the event of a disaster. Some preppers even have underground storage units buried so they’re not easily spotted by others.
Also don’t forget that certain foods hold a good deal of water, such as soups. Make sure you buy the low sodium kind, so that it doesn’t make you more thirsty than before.
Water is bulky, but it’s relatively inexpensive, so this should be a prepping task that’s easily doable for all families. From a backpack bladder or water pouches to 55-gallon tanks at home – you can be ready for anything if you stop and take the time to plan.