Storing Drinking Water :: Hurricane Preparedness

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Storing Drinking Water

Since water is essential to human life, stocking water reserves should be one of your top priorities in preparing for an emergency. You should store at least a three-day supply of water for each family member. While everyone's needs will differ, depending on age, physical condition, activity, diet, and climate, the general rule of thumb is to store a total of two gallons of water, per person, per day. Remember to include your pet's needs when calculating how much drinking water your family will need. For a three day period, each pet will require three gallons of drinking water, and each person will require six gallons of drinking water.

How to Store Emergency Water Supplies

You can store water in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiberglass, or enamel-lined metal containers.
Heavy plastic containers such as soft drink bottles work best and are more durable. Containers for emergency supplies of water should be rinsed with a bleach solution before using.
Of course, you can always purchase bottled water from a local retailer but if you choose to store tap water, you should treat it with a preservative, such as unscented chlorine bleach, to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Use liquid bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite and no soap. Then, add two drops of unscented bleach per quart of water (or two teaspoons per 10 gallons), stir, and let stand for at least thirty minutes. It should be noted that not all parasitic organisms are destroyed by this method.
Seal your water containers tightly, label them, and store them in a cool, dark place.
In addition to purchasing bleach, you may also choose to purchase water purification tablets. The process that uses these tablets is described in our article, “Purifying Drinking Water.”

Page Last Updated: 7/17/08 17:43