Water, Water, Water!

Water is the most overlook critical item in most pantries.  You can survive quite some time on little food but only three days without water.  The recommendation for water storage is 1 gallon per person per day.  A week's worth of storage for 1 person is 7 gallons so simply multiply that by how many in your household.  However rehydrating dried foods, cooking and personal needs all require water.  You cannot feasibly store enough water to last a year but water storage is a big part of preparedness.  Municipal water can be shut off due to contamination (most likely), power outage (less likely) or a cyber attack (who know?).  Even if you have a well, the well can go dry or get contaminated.   

Therefore, you need:

1. a fresh water source
   
2. one or more water storage vessels
3. a water catchment system
4. a water filtration system
5. a way to treat water

Finding a nearby water source is very important in the event your municipal water or well is disrupted for an extended period of time.  This may or may not be feasible for some however, knowing where you can find water is very important.

Water storage vessels range in size from individual to the 50 gal drums and 250/330 gal IBC tanks.  All containers must be food grade, with a tight fitting lid and made of durable, unbreakable materials.  Two cavG7jvN81?go2l!b*Ju26*12ggE3mc5#*eats, the larger drums and tanks are now a popular target of theft even when filled.  Drums and tanks should not be stored direct on cement as over time,  contaminants from the cement can leach into them.  It's best to secure these indoors in a garage or somewhere out of sight of prying eyes.   Canning water in quart jars is an ideal but inexpensive way to get shelf-stable sterile water for your pantry and home apothocary.  Five gallon refillable water jugs are available in the camping supplies section of many stores.   Re-purposing juice jugs and large glass containers is an ideal way to store filter water.  This water should be rotated every 6 months.  As much as I don't like them, now is the time to pick up a case of water every time you grocery shop.  Be sure to rotate that too.  A home pool is one of the best storage vessels but the water does need too be filtered.

Many folks use a rain barrel to catch water off the roof.  This catchment system is good but should not be considered safe to drink due to chemicals in the asphalt shingles of the roof.  If your roof is not asphalt shingled you may be fine.  There's a lot of conflicting information on this topic.  There are several designs for DIY water catchment systems on You Tube.

A water filtration system is critical.  A whole house water system is ideal.  Single tap, refrigerator and reverse osmosis water filtration systems are available.  The most recommended is the Berkey but it's pricey.  We personally like the ZeroWater filtration system (mid-range price) and the Brita (low price) is always a good option.  It depends on what you are trying to filter out.  All water filtration systems have a weak link and that is the filters themselves.  You need at least a one year supply of filters for whatever system you are using.  Personal filtration devices (ei. LifeStraw) are available as well.

Stored water should be treated with chlorine at a rate 1 to 2 PPM for potable water.  Always sanitize your container before fill then add the water and treatment.  For 1 PPM in 100 gal you need 1.5 tsp 5% chlorine bleach (household unscented bleach).  You should also keep liquid pool shock (10-12% chlorine) and water purification tablets on hand just in case.  

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