Emergency Water Supply
"Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink."
I don't know who said that but in the case of a disaster, it might unfortunately be a true situation. So an emergency water supply is imperative. |
Next to oxygen, water it the most essential element in the survival of human beings. A person can survive without food for several weeks, but can only survive without water for a few days.
We are a spoiled society, particularly in the U.S. We are used to having water fit to drink, bathe, and cook with just come out of the tap when we turn it on. A natural disaster could easily disrupt that, like an earthquake that breaks main water pipes.
If or when a disaster happens, we should consider all water contaminated whether it comes from your home pipes, a cistern, a well or otherwise. And did you know that the water in your home pipes is dependent on electricity? No electricity - no water being pumped into your home. Since most of us don't live by a stream or have our own well, we must find a way to have an emergency water supply on hand.
How much is enough?
FEMA and other emergency services recommend that we have at least a two-week emergency water supply on hand at all times. Bare-bones survival rations would be 1/2 gallon per person per day just for drinking and minimal food preparation purposes. You might not think that you drink that much in a day, but I'll bet if you added up all the water, juice, milk, soft drinks, broth, and other liquids, you would be close to consuming 1/2 gallon. In an emergency, you may find that you want more liquid than in regular circumstances.
In addition to drinking water, you will need 1/2 gallon per person per day for other uses, such as brushing teeth, washing dishes, etc. Remember, this is just a bare minimum. On a regular day, you may wash several gallons of water down the drain as you rinse the dinner dishes. In an emergency situation, you will have to keep a watchful eye on the amount used for those purposes. A wet cloth wipe-up may be all your dishes get.
Fourteen gallons is a good general starting amount, but you may need more than that. Take into consideration the specific needs of your family.
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Do you have a baby in your house? How much water do you need for preparing formula or baby food? Since babies sometimes spit up and make messes, you'll need sufficient water to clean up.
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Active teenagers usually drink more liquids than adults. Make sure to store plenty of water for active teens.
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Is any member of your family an invalid or chronically ill? Do they have an increased need for ewater to take medicaions or for personal care?
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Do you have pets? If so, you'll need to plan additional water for them.
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If the majority of your storage foods are dry or dehydrated, you'll need more water for preparation of those foods.
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Do you live in an area where extreme heat is a regular occurance? Everyone will need more water if that is your situaion.
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Are you accustomed to drinking more water for good health? If so, cutting back drastically, especially in a time of crisis, could be very difficult physically.
Where is there already water in your home?
If an earthquake or other catastrophe happened right now, before you've had a chance to store water for emergencies, where could you find some?
The hot-water heater is the first place to go. There is clean, drinkable water there. Depending on the size of your water heater, there is 20-50 gallons. The trick is to get it out. Have a bucket handy and put it under the drain faucet. Then open a water faucet in a sink nearby to release the pressure and cause the water to flow.
A word of caution: Before using the water from your water heater, it is imperative that you switch off the gas or electricity that heats the water. Leaving the heating part on while the water heater is empty could cause an explosion or burn out the elements, destroying your water heater. Don't turn on the water heater again until water services have been restored and the water heater is refilled.
There is also water in your pipes that can be used. Open a water faucet in the highest part of the house and then drain the pipes from the lowest faucet in the house.
If the emergency is an earthquake or an landslide, you may have to turn off your water from outside the house to avoid contamination to the water inside your water heater and pipes.
Then there is the toilet tank (not the bowl). There is about 3 to 5 gallons of clean water in each tank. You can dip it out with a cup or ladle. If you are a little squeemish about drinking water from the toilet tank, use that water for your pet or for cleanliness.
Don't forget the liquids in most canned goods. Canned fruit, vegetables or broth have liquid that can be used to cook with or to drink if absolutely necessary.
A swimming pool or hot tub is a good source of grey water for washing, but since there are chemicals in them, they are not a good source for drinking water.
Water beds also have chemicals in the water to retard germ and algae growth. Use the water for washing only.
