Preparedness has been on my mind lately. The daily news of heartbreaking natural disasters that leave many homeless and helpless make me realize how important being prepared can be.
We talked about 3 Ways to Jumpstart Your Emergency Preparedness and Food Storage Tips to Get You Prepared in these previous posts.
This week I would like to talk about the next most important preparedness topic in my opinion: water storage.
Prepare for Emergencies WITHOUT Building a Bunker in the Woods
Want to prepare for emergencies, but aren't sure you have enough time or space to store a bunch of stuff? Keep it simple by getting our checklist so you only store the essentials. This FREE PDF will show you what you need to keep your family safe and prepared in any scenario.
When you sign up for our email list, you will get this PDF for free, along with weekly emails covering topics on gardening, homesteading, etc. Don't worry. We won't spam your inbox. You can unsubscribe any time.
Why is water storage important?
Water storage is a major part of a good emergency plan. You need water to drink, cook with, wash clothes and bath in.
Also, it an emergency, local water could get contaminated and not be safe to drink or use.
Infographic by https://offgridsurvival.com/national-preparedness-month-infographics/
How much water do we need to store?
As in the infographic above, it is suggested that we store a gallon of water per person per day.
The best way to determine exactly how much you need is to try to go without water for a day. This will help you determine all of the ways you use water and how much you might need for your family.
What are the best ways to store water?
100 gallon tub water storage – I haven’t tried these yet, but I think they are an ingenious idea. If you have some warning of an emergency, you throw this in your bath tub and fill with water before the water is turned off. One time use only.
55 gallon containers – These bigger containers can help you consolidate your water storage. As with all water storage containers, do not store them directly on concrete.
7 Gallon water jugs – These are more portable than the bigger containers. They are also good for camping.
1 gallon jugs-Easy to buy and store, you can put these under beds or in closets.
Old soda bottles– Save your old soda bottles (if you are drinking soda), clean them out and refill with water for storage.
Empty canning jars-As you empty your canning jars of preserved food, fill them up with water for storage. They take up just as much space in the pantry whether they are full or empty so you may as well use the space wisely.
How often do you need to rotate your water storage?
Water can stay good for years, but it can be contaminated very easily.
It is best practice to check your water storage annually to see if you have any leaks, discoloration or smell.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Check out 6 ways to store water so you will be prepared in an emergency. #preparedness” quote=”Check out 6 ways to store water so you will be prepared in an emergency. #preparedness”]
What if you need to use contaminated water?
In an emergency, you use what you have to survive. If your water storage went bad or you don’t have enough, you may have to use contaminated water.
Also, you may have a pond or stream that you plan on using in an emergency scenario.
How do you purify contaminated water? Follow the instructions in the infographic above to clean your water.
Make sure you have water purification drops in your 72 hour kit for just such an occasion.
Water storage is often overlooked in emergency preparedness but it is vital to our survival. By having different sizes of emergency water in different areas of your homestead, you can be better prepared for whatever comes your way.
Do you have water storage tips to share? Let us know in the comments below. And if you found this post helpful, please share. Thanks!
Prepare for Emergencies WITHOUT Building a Bunker in the Woods
Want to prepare for emergencies, but aren't sure you have enough time or space to store a bunch of stuff? Keep it simple by getting our checklist so you only store the essentials. This FREE PDF will show you what you need to keep your family safe and prepared in any scenario.
When you sign up for our email list, you will get this PDF for free, along with weekly emails covering topics on gardening, homesteading, etc. Don't worry. We won't spam your inbox. You can unsubscribe any time.