A pandemic and then earthquakes. Now we need to store water along with our toilet paper. Here’s what you need to know about water storage.
How Much Water Should You Store Per Person?
*Quick answer: 1-2 Gallons per day per person
The concensus seems to be that you’ll need AT LEAST one gallon of water per person per day. You’ll need to be drinking 1/2 gallon per day for a moderate climate. Considering you may be working hard to clear debris or other things you could need/want more than that. The UrbanSurvivalSite.com suggests 2 gallons per person per day. This allows plenty to drink as well as water for cooking/bathing. Don’t forget your furry friends (or whatever pets you happen to have). They will need water as well (1 quart-1gallon per day).
How Many Days Should You Have A Supply For?
*Quick Answer: At least 3 days
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) suggest starting with a 3 day supply and building up to a 2 week supply. If you have infants, elderly, or sick persons who you are storing water for you might want to consider storing up to 4 weeks worth of water.
Where Should I Store My Water?
*Quick Answer: A cool place, that is easily accessible, away from chemicals, and not directly on cement floors.
What you need to know about water storage is that it is thought that plastics that store water can leach the things around them into them. So leaving your bottled water on the cement floor or near toxins or by where you store your gasoline is not a good idea. A good idea is to store it where you can get to it easily and in a cool place.
You probably want to store your bleach elsewhere
What Should I Store My Water In?
*Quick Answer: A food grade container that is clean.
There are all kinds of big and small plastic food grade containers to purchase to store your water in. The most common way I see is the 55 gallon drum. It’s an easy way to store a lot of water. Here are 3 steps for storing water in a 55 gallon drum.
First, the Provident Prepper suggest cleaning the drum by using 1 cup fresh chlorine bleach mixed with 2 gallons of water. Pour it in the drum and close the top tight then roll it around to get the mixture all over the drum. Then rinse it out with clean water until you can’t smell the chlorine anymore. Allow it to dry before the next step.
What you need to know about water storage
Second, fill the drum. You need to use a drinking water hose. Your regular garden hose may leach lead or other contaminates into your water. Some suggest using a RV drinking water hose. Fill it with clean water.
Third, disinfect the water. This makes it so you can leave your water without the fear of it becoming contaminated. Provident Prepper has 4 ways to disinfect your water with my favorite being using this product from Amazon which can be put into your 55 gallon drum and protects your water for 5 years.
Water Storage Preserver
What you need to know about water storage is that something is better than nothing. Get your storage started with some bottled water from the store to get your 3 day supply. Then move on to storing a 2 week supply by using things like the 55 gallon drum. You’ll feel more prepared having your own water storage.
