Safe Drinking Water After a Large Earthquake

WATER IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM TO STORE

Loss of safe drinking water can be deadly. Most people, with few exceptions, will be feeling the effects if they do without water for more than 36 hours. Dehydration occurs much quicker than starvation. Our bodies can tolerate the loss of food much better.

With an ample water supply, starvation is delayed many days, even weeks.

 The City water supply is vulnerable to the effects of a large earthquake. Contaminants can get into the drinking water supply through ruptures in the pipes, through the mixing up of sediments, through the adulteration of filtering systems, etc. Now, we take our water for granted. That will be dangerous after a big quake.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I STORE?

A good rule of thumb is:  5 GALLONS PER PERSON (MINIMUM)

NOTE:  Treat your pet as a family member when thinking about how much to store.

WATER SOURCES:

• Bottled Water from the Store – 1- and 2-gallon sealed containers (NOTE: The 1- and 2- gallon containers you purchase in your local store are not designed for long-term storage and will begin to leak/fail after about 6 months. )
• 1- and 5-Gallon Sealable Containers – From camping or survival stores. Be sure to sanitize container and treat the water that you are storing. Old bleach bottles, clearly marked, make good containers for water storage.
• 20-oz. to 1-Liter Designer Water Containers – Are usually marked with an expiration date, but are generally good for about two years
• 5-Gallon Water Bottles from Private Water Companies – Water companies claim their water and containers are good for up to five years, if still factory sealed & correctly stored in a cool dark location.

DO NOT STORE ANY PLASTIC WATER CONTAINER DIRECTLY ON CONCRETE.

The concrete will leech chemicals into the water, contaminating it and also degrading the plastic bottle, causing failure.

Store all plastic water containers on a wooden pallet or shelf. Keep water containers in a location where container failure will not destroy your other supplies.  Keep all water and supplies in a cool dark place.  Any water that you make up yourself needs to be treated.

If left untreated over time, it becomes contaminated with bacteria and algae.

• 8 DROPS OF PURE UNSCENTED LIQUID BLEACH PER GALLON OF WATER WILL REDUCE THE CONTAMINANTS IN THE WATER.
• ADD THE BLEACH WHEN YOU FIRST STORE THE WATER AWAY.

NOTE: ROTATE YOUR WATER EVERY SIX MONTHS  (This includes the 1- and 2-gallon sealed bottles purchased at the store, and the supply you made up from tap water with bleach added.)

If the purity of your water source is questionable, use the following methods to make the water safe to drink:

Best!  Add liquid chlorine beach to the water (8 drops per gallon of water.  Double this dose if the water is cloudy.)

Or

Good!  Add 2% Tincture of Iodne to the water (12 drops per gallon.  Double this dose if the water is cloudy.)

Or

Acceptable!  Boil the water vigorously (5 minutes at sea level, adding an extra minute for every 1000 feet above sea level.  Double this time if the water is cloudy.)

And

Don’t forget to clean and sanitize your food and water containers before using them.  Wash with soap and water then fill with a 10% bleach solution.  After 5 minutes empty the bleach solution and let air dry.

And

Water that is dirty should first be strained through a coffee filter,cheesecloth, or a paper towel to remove subpended matter.

Another source of water is the hot water heater. Every water heater has a drain valve near the bottom.

GETTING THE WATER OUT OF YOUR WATER HEATER :

• Use extreme caution. Let the water cool.
• Turn off the cold water supply to the tank
• Turn off the gas or electric heater for the tank
• Open the drain valve at the bottom

REMEMBER: Some sediment at the bottom of the tank may at first make water flowing out look murky. Continue to drain water until it becomes clear.

OTHER SOURCES OF WATER IN YOUR HOME

• Toilet Water Storage Tank. NOTE: Use the water from the Storage Tank – NOT THE TOILET BOWL (Don’t drink the water if you use coloring or chemicals in it)
• Melted Ice Cubes are a source of water
• Water-Packed Can Goods (even syrups are mostly water)
• Water Trapped In Home Piping. Water can be removed by locating and shutting off the main water valve. Then, open the valve at the highest point of your property (i.e., shower head, especially on the 2nd floor ). Then, when you open the valve at the lowest point, gravity will force the water from the pipes.

THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED SOURCES ARE FOR DRINKING AND FOOD PREPARATION

DO NOT DRINK POOL OR SPA WATER!  POOL WATER CONTAINS MANY TOXIC CHEMICALS AND HAS A HIGH POTENTIAL OF GIVING YOU DIARRHEA, CAUSING DEHYDRATION!

(Source:  Los Angeles Fire Departement – Emergency Preparedness Booklet)

Water Storage & Purification

Do you have enough water stored for your family to survive in case of an emergency?

Water is crucial to our survival, yet so many of us neglect to store it! If a natural disaster happens in your area, and all water supplies are cut off, what would you do for your family? Hopefully your family will become prepared, to avoid such an unnecessary experience.

My husband was the emergency preparedness coordinator for our ward (Mormon congregation) when he found that there were very few people who were storing water. He immediately set out to find 55-gallon water barrels. After searching online, he found a man who was willing to negotiate a bulk rate. It took some effort, but we were able to deliver dozens of water barrels to people who needed them. If you cannot find a similar deal in your area, try Home Depot or Wal-Mart. They occasionally have water barrels in stock, and they are priced under $35.

WHAT SUPPLIES DO I NEED TO GET STARTED?

1. Water barrels (usual size is 55 gallons)
2. Bleach (Clorox or generic brand)
3. Water hose
4. Siphon/pump for removing water

HOW MUCH WATER WILL OUR FAMILY NEED?

Your emergency water supply should last for at least two weeks. You may wish to calculate how many gallons you will need in order for your family before purchasing water barrels. A person can survive on one gallon per day, but cleaning, cooking, personal hygiene require more. If possible, plan for at least 2 gallons for each person, per day.

HOW DO I CALCULATE THE RIGHT AMOUNT?

An effective two-week supply for a family of 5 would require 140 gallons of water. (2 weeks = 14 days; 14 days x 2 gallons = 24 gallons per person; 5 people x 24 gallons = 140 gallons for all 5 people for 2 weeks). This family would need 3 large (55 gallon) water barrels. Remember, it’s better to have too much water than not enough!

HOW MUCH BLEACH SHOULD I ADD TO THE WATER?

First, check to see if your city’s water is already chlorinated, since it may be unnecessary to treat it.

1/8 teaspoon, or one droplet, of Clorox (bleach) for every gallon of water should suffice. For a 55-gallon barrel, you would add almost 7 teaspoons. Make sure you wait 30 minutes before drinking water that has just been treated.

TIP FOR FRESH-TASTING WATER:

After your water has been stored for a while, it may taste stale. This may be remedied by simply pouring it between 2 containers, back and forth.

ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS:

Including your children in the planning will help them understand how to be more prepared. Keep it fun!

• Give your family the opportunity to calculate how much water you will need to store. Start by telling them that each person needs 2 gallons a day, and allow them to figure out how much water your family will need for 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks…etc. Make a chart to post near your water supply that explains their findings.
• You can use helpful hands when filling your barrels! A family member will need to be stationed at the water spiket, another at the water barrel, and as many as needed to communicate when to turn on/off the water source.
• When it’s time to replace the water in each barrel, hold a relay to see who can siphon a gallon of water out of their barrel the fastest. It seems silly, but everyone can use the practice!

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