Many emergencies can end up disrupting the regular supply of water to your home and its environs. It can happen as a result of a natural disaster such as drought, hurricanes, drought, or infected water systems. The situation can also arise due to man-made disasters such as broken water infrastructure, chemical spillage, and power outages. In most cases, it takes plenty of time to restore the water supply.
To prepare for such critical times, you’ll need careful planning to store enough water that will last until your supply is restored. Considering that human beings can only survive for a few days without water, knowing how to prepare and store water for emergencies is a survival skill that everyone needs to learn. This skill can mean the difference between life and death, especially when your access to water isn’t coming back anytime soon. Here is how to prepare and store an emergency water supply:
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Choose A Source Of Water
You can take advantage of the many sources of water within your reach ahead of emergencies. If you have enough funds, buy water from a public supplier or purchase bottled water from a store. However, don’t overwhelm yourself by ordering too much water at once as water does expire, and you may have to throw it away if it’s no longer safe to be consumed.
You can also benefit from natural water sources such as streams, rivers, rainwater, natural spring, and more alternative sources of water around you. Rainwater is still considered safer than other sources as it has lesser contamination risks before getting to you.
Nonetheless, you should always confirm how safe your water source is to know the precautions you have to follow to make the water safe for home use. If you feel or know the source has been contaminated, treat it thoroughly before storage. It’s only safe water that can be useful to you in emergencies.
Apart from choosing a water source, you also need to prepare where to store the water. You can visit watertankfactory.com.au/water-tanks-sydney/ to order your rainwater storage needs. These companies offer different sizes and solutions for water storage. With the right storage equipment, you’ll always have a place to store as much water as you need.
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Amount Of Water To Be Stored
When preparing your water emergency supplies, considering the amount of water needed to be stored is also important. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends keeping a minimum of one gallon of water per day for a minimum of three days for each individual. This is for functional purposes, including drinking.
To do this effectively, you need to consider the actual water usage habit of your family. Factors like current climate, weather conditions, and the needs of each person in your household are determinants. For instance, a pregnant or sick person will use more water than an average person. Also, hot weather means more water consumption. If you have pets, you need to put them into consideration too.
You can sum all these conditions together to know the exact amount of water you should store for your home. It’s also helpful to follow best practices for water management to manage the water available effectively.
You should also follow the expiration date on the bottles of water purchased from a store to know the best time to use it up. Water from other sources should be used and replaced within a maximum of six months. However, if you’ve had your water stored longer than the required time, you may still use them in moments of emergencies if there’s no other option.
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Consider Different Water Storage Options
When your water has been disinfected and confirmed free of any pollutants, you can start storing them. There are many water storage options to properly keep the water you’ll need. The most important thing to watch out for is to not use storage methods that can transfer contaminants into the stored water. For example, never use containers that can decompose quickly or ones that have been used to store other items.
There are many food-grade plastics, water tanks, stainless steel, and glass container options that you can use to store safe water efficiently. Any storage method you’re considering must be accompanied by a top-tight lid and an opening that can be used to pour water conveniently. You can contact a manufacturer for price inquiries and to confirm how effective it will be in storing safe water without compromising it for future use.
Finally, always store your water in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and harmful substances. Label each container with the dates you stored it and when it will likely expire to know when it’s time to finish it up.
Conclusion
You can find yourself in an emergency that will cut of your regular water supply. When emergencies strike, water is typically the most urgent and significant need. This is why you need to know how to prepare and store an emergency water supply for you and your family. With the information above, you can save water to help you survive any emergency. Don’t forget to ensure the water you’re storing is safe for consumption.
