Water Storage
Compiled by Dick Oakes
www.phantomranch.NET
The average person needs to drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Four glasses, however, is okay for a short period of time. Water is also necessary for food preparation and sanitation. Towlettes, wash cloths, and alcohol, however, can be used for sanitation.
- Store at least one gallon of water per day for each person on your household, and have a two-week supply of water for each household member. People in hot environments, extremely physically active people, nursing mothers, children, and ill people will need more water.
- Store water in thoroughly washed plastic containers. Soft drink bottles work well. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.
- Use rope to join your water containers in case you arre displaced from your home in an emergency. The rope allows you to carry the bottles around your neck.
- Keep your water supply away from sun, heat, gasoline, and pesticides.
- In the event of an emergency, you can also utilize alternative water sources, such as the hot water tank, the water in your pipes, and the untreated water in the reservoir tank of your toilet (not the bowl).
- To purify water, boil it for ten minutes and chlorinate it by adding two drops of bleach per quart of water or use purification tablets, such as iodine or halazone.
- Remember to rotate your water supply every six months!
Water Sources
- Lakes
- Moving bodies of water
- Natural springs
- Ponds
- Rainwater
- Rivers
- Streams