Water Storage & Water Filtration
When empty don't rinse. Fill with water for hand washing, cleaning, etc.
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You go to the water facet in your home, turn the knob and the water comes out brown & stinky or worse yet....no water at all comes out!! What do you do? After the initial shock, we can think of the stored water we have in the garage, basement or other place you have decided to keep your water! If this were to happen today....are you ready? I hope the answer is YES. Just in case the answer is negative, let's go over how to store water.
Amount of Emergency Water to Store
Whereas a quart of water or other fluid daily will sustain life, according to the Department of Defense and the Office of Civil Defense, it is recommended that a gallon of water per day per person be stored for food preparation and drinking. A gallon provides added comfort and accommodates increased fluid needs at higher altitudes or warm climates. An additional one-half to 1 gallon per day is recommended for bathing and hygiene, and to wash dishes.
You can never have to much water!
How much water should I store? The rule of thumb is to store at least one gallon per person per day for at least 3 days (for earthquake preparedness). That’s 2 quarts for drinking and 2 quarts for food preparation and sanitation. A family of four should store a minimum of 12 gallons of water. Personally, I recommend storing as much as possible. Also, if you store dry foods you will need water to hydrate them. Use the following guidelines when storing water:
1. Store drinking water in carefully cleaned, non-corrosive, tightly covered containers.
2. Store containers in a cool dark place. DO NOT store in direct sunlight. Polyethylene plastics (prepackaged milk and water bottles) are somewhat permeable to hydrocarbon vapors. Keep away from stored gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, or similar substances.
3. Stored tap water should be rotated every 6 months. Prepackaged bottled water should be rotated once a year. Check the pull date on the container. Be sure it didn’t sit on the store’s shelf for a year before you purchased it. Self Serve Bottled Water should be rotated once a year, as long as the water treatment process includes ozonation.
4. Rotate your stored water with the water you use on a regular basis. This practice helps insure you don’t have water stored longer than one year.
Containers That Can be Used for Water Storage
Food-grade plastic or glass containers are suitable for storing water. One-, three- and five-gallon water containers can be purchased from most outdoor or hardware stores. Any plastic or glass container that previously held food or beverages such as 2-liter soda bottles or water, juice, punch or milk jugs, also may be used. Stainless steel can be used to store water which has not been or will not be treated with chlorine; chlorine is corrosive to most metals.
55 gal drums, designed specifically for water storage can be difficult to transport, if the need arises, but are of a tremendous value in an emergency .When looking for additional food grade containers, the bottom will be stamped with HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene) and coded with the recycle symbol and a “2″ inside. HDPE containers are FDA-approved for food. Containers without these designations aren’t OK because of possible chemical interactions between the water and the plastic.
Clean used containers and lids with hot soapy water. Once the containers have been thoroughly cleaned, rinse them with water and sanitize the containers and lids by rinsing them with a solution of 1 tablespoon chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Leave the containers wet for two minutes, then rinse them again with water. Remember to remove the paper or plastic lid liners before washing the lids. It is very difficult to effectively remove all residue from many containers, so carefully clean hard-to-reach places like the handles of milk jugs. To sanitize stainless steel containers, place the container in boiling water for 10 minutes. Never use containers that previously held chemicals.
A variety of containers is a good thing. If you have to leave your home a 55 gal drum would be hard to carry, so you'll want some water in containers that you can carry. If you stay in your home you'll want the volume of water that the drums provide.
Do I Need to Treat Water?
Once you properly clean containers, fill them with potable, or safe, drinking water. All public water supplies are already treated and should be free of harmful bacteria. However, as an additional precaution, it is recommended that you add 5-7 drops, about 1/8 teaspoon, of chlorine bleach per gallon of water stored. This precaution protects you against any lingering organisms in storage containers that may have been inadvertently missed during the cleaning process.
Where to Store Water
Clearly label all water containers “drinking water” with the current date. Store the water in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Do not store it near gasoline, kerosene, pesticides or similar substances.
When potable water is properly stored, it should have an indefinite shelf life; however, it’s a good idea to use and replace the stored water every 6 – 12 months. Rotating water this way provides you with an opportunity to experiment and check the amount of stored water against what you require. It also serves as an additional precaution against bacteria or viruses growing in containers which may not have been thoroughly or properly cleaned and sanitized.
If you have freezer space, storing some water in the freezer is a good idea. If you lose electricity, the frozen water will help keep foods in your freezer frozen until the power is restored. Make sure you leave 2 to 3 inches of space in containers because water expands as it freezes.
Emergency Sources of Water
In an emergency, if you have not previously stored water and commercial or public sources of water are not available, drain water from your plumbing system. Unless you are advised that the public water supply has been contaminated and is not safe, open the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater and salvage the water stored in the heater. A typical water heater holds 30-60 gallons of water. Discard the first few gallons if they contain rust or sediment. Let the water heater cool before draining it from the heater so it does not scald you. Turn off the electricity or gas to the water heater to prevent the heater from operating without water. Once water has been drained into clean, sanitized containers, add 5-7 drops of chlorine bleach* per gallon of water, and stir or shake the solution to mix it. Let it set 30 minutes before use.
Emergency Outdoor Water Sources
If you need to find water outside your home, you can use these sources. Be sure to treat the water first. Additional sources include:
Rainwater Streams, rivers and other moving bodies of water Ponds and lakes Natural springs Avoid water with floating material, an odor or dark color. Use saltwater only if you distill it first. You should not drink flood water.
Hidden Water Sources in Your Home
If a disaster catches you without a stored supply of clean water, you can use the water in your hot-water tank, pipes and ice cubes. As a last resort, you can use water in the reservoir tank of your toilet (not the bowl).
Do you know the location of your incoming water valve? You’ll need to shut it off to stop contaminated water from entering your home if you hear reports of broken water or sewage lines.
To use the water in your pipes, let air into the plumbing by turning on the faucet in your house at the highest level. A small amount of water will trickle out. Then obtain water from the lowest faucet in the house.
To use the water in your hot-water tank, be sure the electricity or gas is off, and open the drain at the bottom of the tank. Start the water flowing by turning off the water intake valve and turning on a hot-water faucet. Do not turn on the gas or electricity when the tank is empty.
Using Swimming Pool Water
You should always view your pool as “backup” water; keep the water treated; you never know when it will be needed! The maintenance of the free chlorine residual will prevent establishment of any microorganisms. The maintenance level should be kept about 3-5ppm free chlorine. (See Water Purification for detailed information on purifying pool water.) If other stored water stocks are not available, remove the necessary pool water and boil it or just treat with chlorine to the normal 5ppm. It is best to err on the side of caution.
Covering the pool at all times when not in use is a very good idea. Try to keep the cover clean and wash the area you put it on when removing it from the pool. You decide if you want to use this source, some people don't recommend it. I don't think it is any worse and maybe even better than getting water from a lake, strean etc.
When and How to Treat Water for Storage
In an emergency, if you do not have water that you know is safe, it’s possible to purify water for drinking. Start with the cleanest water you can find and treat with one of the following methods:
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Boiling and chlorinating: Water can be purified by boiling. Boiling times may vary from state to state, depending on altitude. In Colorado, the water is safe to use once after it has been boiled for three to five minutes and has cooled. If you plan to store boiled water, pour it into clean, sanitized containers and let it cool to room temperature. Then add 5-7 drops, or 1/8 teaspoon, of chlorine bleach* per gallon of water (1/2 teaspoon per 5 gallons). Stir or shake the solution to mix it. Cap the containers and store them in a cool, dry place.
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Filtering and chlorinating: You can filter water if you have a commercial or backpack filter that filters to 1 micron. These are available in sporting good stores and are recommended for use when back-packing. They are not recommended to clean large volumes of water. Filtering eliminates parasites such as giardia and cryptosporidium, but it may not eliminate all bacteria and viruses. Therefore, it’s recommended that 5-7 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of chlorine bleach* be added per gallon of filtered water (1/2 teaspoon for 5 gallons). Stir or shake the solution to mix it. Wait 30 minutes before using the water, or cap the containers and store them in a cool, dry place.
*
Use liquid household bleach that contains 5.25 percent hypochlorite.
Do not use bleaches with fresheners or scents as they may not be safe to consume. The above treatment methods use a two-step approach so less bleach is needed, yet giardia and cryptosporidium are destroyed through boiling or eliminated by filtering. Chlorine may not be effective against these parasites. Since
adding too much chlorine to water can be harmful, it’s important to be as accurate as possible when measuring. You can also get dry bleach from a pool supply. It goes a long way and is safer to use.
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Distillation Distillating involves boiling water and then collecting the vapor that condenses back to water. The condensed vapor will not include salt and other impurities. To distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot’s lid so that the cup will hang right-side-up when the lid is upside-down (make sure the cup is not dangling into the water) and boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.
Most water filtration devices are designed for use on microbiologically safe water. Don’t assume they are safe to use on contaminated water. Check with the manufacturer to be sure.
Use the following guidelines to determine if filtration equipment is adequate to use with microbiologically contaminated water:
Filtration Equipment Safe on Microbiologically Contaminated Water?
Carbon Filter- No
Reverse Osmosis- No
Deionization Filter- No
Pitcher Filter- No
Faucet Mount Filter- No
Steam Distiller Yes – but requires electricity
UV Sterilizer Yes – but requires electricity
Ceramic Filter Some – YES but only if rated for bacteriological protection
Equipment that is safe to use on contaminated water is often slow, costly, inconvenient and/or high maintenance. It makes the most sense to use the filtration equipment that best meets your normal daily needs and shift to water storage or alternative methods of water treatment in times of emergencies.
Purifying Water
· If water is polluted, strain through paper towels, paper coffee filters, or several layers of clean cloth into a container to remove any sediment or flaking material. Then boil the water vigorously for 10 minutes, as this will usually make it safe to drink. Add one additional minute for each 10,000 feet of altitude, depending on the area you live in.
Jane has "water socks" for $10 each that will strain the debris out of water so that you can purify it without the chunks in it. Call her to get some. She gets these from a special source.
· Another method of purification is to strain the water as described above, and then to chemically purify it by adding liquid bleach or tincture of iodine.
· For clear water, use two drops of bleach or three drops of tincture of iodine per liter. If the water is cloudy, then these amounts should be doubled. Store an eye dropper with your emergency supplies, to be used only for this purpose.
· Mix thoroughly by stirring or shaking water in a container. Let the water stand for 30 minutes. A slight chlorine odor should be detectable. If not then the dosage should be repeated and the water allowed to stand for an additional 15 minutes.
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Liquid bleach loses strength over time. For this reason I mark each bleach container with the current date. If the bleach is one-year-old, double the amount. Two-year-old bleach should not be used.
· Water purification tablets will purify one liter of water. The tablets have a shelf life of two years and lose their effectiveness if them get damp.
· Purify enough water to last a maximum of 48 hours. Water allowed to sit for longer than this may become re-contaminated.
Prepare Containers
Thoroughly clean the bottles with dishwashing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap.
Additionally, for plastic soft drink bottles, sanitize the
bottles by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart (1/4 gallon) of water. Swish the sanitizing solution in the bottle so that it touches all surfaces. After sanitizing the bottle, thoroughly rinse out the sanitizing solution with clean water.
Fill the container
Fill the bottle to the top with regular tap water. (If your water utility company treats your tap water with chlorine, you do not need to add anything else to the water to keep it clean.) If the water you are using comes from a well or water source that is not treated with chlorine, add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to each gallon of water.
Tightly close the container using the original cap. Becareful not to contaminate the cap by touching the inside of it with your fingers. Write the date on the outside of the container so that you know when you filled it. Store in a cool, dark place. One more important note:
get a new hose to fill your water drums old ones have fungus and bacteria in them. We don't want this in water to be stored.
WAYS TO TREAT WATER
The instructions below are for treating water of uncertain quality in rare emergency situations in the absence of instructions from local authorities when no other reliable clean water source is available and you have used all of your stored water. If you store enough water in advance, you will not need to treat water using these or other methods.
Boiling is the safest method of treating water. In a large pot or kettle, bring water to a rolling boil for 5 full minutes, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. Cover if you can. Let the water cool before drinking. Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring the water back and forth between two clean containers. This will also improve the taste of stored water. You will need alot of fuel for this method.
You can use household
liquid bleach to kill microorganisms. Use only regular household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 to 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented bleaches, colorsafe bleaches, or bleaches with added cleaners. Because the potency of bleach diminishes with time, use bleach from a newly opened or unopened bottle. Add 16 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon of water, stir and let stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight bleach odor. If it doesn’t, then repeat the dosage and let stand another 15 minutes. If it still does not smell of bleach, discard it and find another source of water.
Other chemicals, such as
iodine or
water treatment products (sold in camping or surplus stores) that do not contain 5.25 to 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite as the only active ingredient, are not recommended and should not be used.
Distillation
While the two methods described above will kill most microorganisms in water, distillation will remove microorganisms that resist these methods, as well as heavy metals, salts, and most other chemicals.
Distillation involves boiling water and then collecting the vapor that condenses back to water. The condensed vapor will not include salt or most other impurities. To distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot’s lid so that the cup will hang right-side-up when the lid is upside-down (make sure the cup is not dangling into the water), and boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.
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Homemade Water Filters
The key to making a homemade water filter is to having the right materials readily available. A homemade water filter can be made easily and inexpensively and can serve your immediate clean water needs.
Types of Homemade Water Filters
There are two schools of thought about homemade water filters when it comes to construction. The first is to create one with prefabricated parts accessible from online distributors. The other school of thought is to create your own components from everyday household items. In either case, the parts needed to make your own water filter are relatively easy to assemble.
A housing configuration will be needed to house the filtration system. Single, double, or triple filtration housing systems are available, a decision should be made on which would serve immediate filtration needs. Each housing configuration should include housing, stand, spout, diverter and all of the fittings.
Once the housing configuration has been chosen, the filters to be housed should be next. There are a few options in filters for homemade water filters. Activated_carbon is the most common type of filter. Charcoal particles tightly packed together create a network to catch unwanted particles such as lead and other contaminates.
Silver sterasyl ceramic is another type of filter. The compounds in this particular filter act upon more harmful bacteria and cysts such as giardia. However, due to their use of a proprietary silver impregnated ceramic for their microfilters, this type would be beyond the scope of most people looking to make homemade water filters.
Carbon block filters are the other of the basic type of water filtration systems. These types of filters contain powdered or solid carbon blocks. When water is forced through the carbon, it filters out all of the unwanted and harmful particulates and contaminates in water as well as unwanted chlorine and fluoride that can be added to municipal water supplies. Typically, carbon block filters boast a higher contaminant removal ratio.
Once the filter type has been chosen, simply slip the filter cylinder in the housing configuration, secure the housing to the countertop and hook the water lines to the plumbing. Once connected water should be allowed to flow freely through the filter line for five to ten minutes for clearance and proper filter activation.
Portable Water Filters
One other type of homemade water filter is far more portable and personal. The materials for this style of water filter are readily available and can be found easily in most households.
A two-liter plastic water bottle with the lid will serve as the housing for the filtration system. An ordinary plastic straw will serve as the spout. The filtration system will consist of cotton batting, fine and large grain gravel, fine and large grain sand, and a coffee filter. Activated charcoal granules may be added for an extra level of filtration. The filtered water can be captured in a mug or jar.
To create this style of homemade water filter, cut off the bottom of the two-liter water bottle. Create a hole in the lid of the bottle so that a straw may fit snugly. The straw must sit half way through the opening in the lid. This housing configuration will sit on the jar or mug with the straw end of the housing inside the jar.
Place the cotton batting at the bottom of the two-liter bottle, this will serve as the lining for your filtration system. Start with a layer of activated charcoal granules.
Next, place a layer of fine grain sand followed by a layer of large grain sand. Follow the layers of sand with a layer of fine grain gravel then larger grain gravel.
Alternate these layers until you reach the top of the bottle.
Top the filtration system with the coffee filter. Once the filtration system is in place, pour in the unfiltered water through the coffee filter. The untreated water will work through the layers of sediment to wick away the impurities in the water. The cotton batting catches particulates from the sediment and acts as a final buffer. The filtered water will flow through the straw spout into the jar for drinking. Adding a couple of drops of chlorine can add another level of filtration to the process.
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WATER FILTER INSTRUCTIONS
In areas subject to fallout, about 99% of the radioactivity in water could be removed BY filtering the water through at least 8 inches of soil taken from 8 inches "Below" the surface. That soil has not been leached of the "clay" particles in the soil "needed to attract the radioactivity" in the water. SANDY soil will not work as a filter because it lacks the necessary soil "clay". Most homes and flowerbeds have enough clay in the soil to work as a filter. Kids play clay does NOT work at all. It has to be soil clay
Get yourself a 5-gallon can, trashcan, bucket, wastebasket, washtub, container. With a hammer and a nail not as big as pencil, punch about a dozen holes in the bottom of the can, punch the holes from the bottom up into the can. Make the holes near the center, in a ring, or circle. Wad up some coat hangers, about a dozen. Put a couple of washcloths in the bucket bottom and the coat hangers on top of them. OR you can just use a bunch of silverware, enough for 6 or 8 people. Knives, forks, spoons. You are creating a void space. Then a bath towel with the ends hanging out over the sides of the bucket.
Put a couple of shovel full's of dirt in the bucket, spread it out even, then some more until it is 8 inches deep in the bucket. Fold-over the towel ends into the bucket, and smooth out the wrinkles as best as you can. Then put a couple more washcloths on top of the waded towel. Pour the contaminated water in slowly and let it soak down through your filter creation. Put your marvelous water filter in another larger can or bucket, standing on some glasses or a couple of food cans or bricks to hold it up. Every 10 Gallons of dirty, OR CLEAN, contaminated water you need to change the soil. WHY? Answer is "BECAUSE" the "clay" in the soil has absorbed the radiation in the water and the clay can't absorb any more. Just like a sponge when it's full, can't hold any more water. "Clay" can only hold so much fallout gamma rays. You take the soil from down below the fallout out in the yard, at least 8 inches deep and you will have enough soil to filter a lot of water, to keep you alive.
If you do not get the radiation "OUT" of water, you are killing your insides and your brain won't know it for two weeks. You are dead.
Then you have to kill the germs in the filtered water, BEFORE you drink it. What is best is to prepare.
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There are many commercial water filters available for your home and also portable ones. Look them over before you buy.
ASAP silver solution -one bottle will clean 6.5 gals on water.
Xpack water filter -see online-- made for the military to use. Comments are they are very good. they are light to carry and will give a 10 day water supply. They sell for about $63. Available at Costco also.
I hope this helps answer the
WATER questions. As always leave your questions (just click on comments below each post) on this blog or call and we'll get you an answer!!
NEXT WEEK:
HOW TO MAKE A SOLAR STILL this is another great way to clean and gather water. Come See!
