Storing up on Water For Sophia Class Delmarva Survival Training Joseph Parish September 26, 2012

For Disasters Only? Many people equate the storage of food and water with major disasters but it is really for the more personal crisis such as loss of employment or self sufficiency. During this meet-up we will concentrate upon storing up on water. Many people equate the storage of food and water with major disasters but it is really for the more personal crisis such as loss of employment or self sufficiency. During this meet-up we will concentrate upon storing up on water.

The Need for Clean Water Clean, potable water is a life necessity especially during times of emergency. Without sufficient water we would fail to stay alive. We use water for a variety of uses ranging from cleaning ourselves to preparing our food. Having a plentiful supply of water during and after a disaster cannot be stressed enough. Clean, potable water is a life necessity especially during times of emergency. Without sufficient water we would fail to stay alive. We use water for a variety of uses ranging from cleaning ourselves to preparing our food. Having a plentiful supply of water during and after a disaster cannot be stressed enough.

Why Store up on Water Throughout our meet- ups we stress having dehydrated food supplies in the event of any disaster. These food supplies would be useless unless we can supply water to re-hydrate them once again. Throughout our meet- ups we stress having dehydrated food supplies in the event of any disaster. These food supplies would be useless unless we can supply water to re-hydrate them once again.

Example 1 Suppose you lived in a city of 200,000 and there is only one route that food and other necessities arrive from. This route leading to your city is over a mountain pass which received a record snow fall during the winter. If the stores start to run out of supplies would you not be glad that you stored up? Suppose you lived in a city of 200,000 and there is only one route that food and other necessities arrive from. This route leading to your city is over a mountain pass which received a record snow fall during the winter. If the stores start to run out of supplies would you not be glad that you stored up?

Example 2 We all know of a friend who may have been going through a tough moments being unemployed for an extended period of time. In cases as this food and water storage would come in handy. Disasters happen all the time. They are not always extreme but it is best to be prepared for them. We all know of a friend who may have been going through a tough moments being unemployed for an extended period of time. In cases as this food and water storage would come in handy. Disasters happen all the time. They are not always extreme but it is best to be prepared for them.

Self Sufficiency Not only will our supply of water offer us a measure of insurance against an upcoming crisis but if our goals are self sufficiency it will compliment our efforts in those areas as well. We encouraged a years supply of food and water to hold us over until better days appear on the horizon. Not only will our supply of water offer us a measure of insurance against an upcoming crisis but if our goals are self sufficiency it will compliment our efforts in those areas as well. We encouraged a years supply of food and water to hold us over until better days appear on the horizon.

Amount of Water Needed It is recommended that we store at least one gallon of water per person per day. A better estimate would likely be two gallons to compensate for cooking and other water needs. The more water you can store the better. It is recommended that we store at least one gallon of water per person per day. A better estimate would likely be two gallons to compensate for cooking and other water needs. The more water you can store the better.

Problem The problem with storing such vast amounts of water is they are extremely heavy and can be difficult to store in massive quantity. Unfortunately, we can not dehydrate water to shrink it down. It will take up a lot of space in your home or retreat. The problem with storing such vast amounts of water is they are extremely heavy and can be difficult to store in massive quantity. Unfortunately, we can not dehydrate water to shrink it down. It will take up a lot of space in your home or retreat.

Water Heater Look back to the list you made after our last meet- up where you calculated how much water you have store up. Did you include the water in your water heater? The average water heater will hold about 30 gallons or enough water to last a family four several days. Look back to the list you made after our last meet- up where you calculated how much water you have store up. Did you include the water in your water heater? The average water heater will hold about 30 gallons or enough water to last a family four several days.

Do The Math How many days could your family last on the water you have stored up? Do the math at this time. If you have four people in your family and you have 40 gallons stored at 2 gallons per day you have enough for five days. How many days could your family last on the water you have stored up? Do the math at this time. If you have four people in your family and you have 40 gallons stored at 2 gallons per day you have enough for five days.

Best Ways to Store Water What are the best ways to store water? You can use cleaned out soda bottles. A 2L bottle is equal to about half a gallon and are easy to store. There are various size containers made just for storing water. Several retailers sell 7 gallon containers and most of them have a built in spigot for ease of use. What are the best ways to store water? You can use cleaned out soda bottles. A 2L bottle is equal to about half a gallon and are easy to store. There are various size containers made just for storing water. Several retailers sell 7 gallon containers and most of them have a built in spigot for ease of use.

Commercial Bottled Water You could purchase commercially bottled water. But, this can be expensive and really the water isn’t much better than what is available in many homes free from the tap. You could purchase commercially bottled water. But, this can be expensive and really the water isn’t much better than what is available in many homes free from the tap.

Alternate Water Supply Some folks advise that if you have the time to do so in an emergency, fill up your bathtub. Not a bad plan but how many of you have bathtubs clean enough to drink from at any given time? Of course, the water from the tub could be used for other purposes such as cleaning. Some folks advise that if you have the time to do so in an emergency, fill up your bathtub. Not a bad plan but how many of you have bathtubs clean enough to drink from at any given time? Of course, the water from the tub could be used for other purposes such as cleaning.

Bath Tub Water If you use your tub water cover the filled tub to keep out dust. You can buy shower curtain liners at most dollar stores and these will work well. Merely drape it over the tub and use books or something on the sides to keep it in place. If you go this route in a crisis use only the cold faucet tap so you don’t empty your water heater. If you use your tub water cover the filled tub to keep out dust. You can buy shower curtain liners at most dollar stores and these will work well. Merely drape it over the tub and use books or something on the sides to keep it in place. If you go this route in a crisis use only the cold faucet tap so you don’t empty your water heater.

WaterBob One way to prepare for an emergency water supply is by use of a storage unit called a WaterBob. The WaterBob is a plastic bag which is large enough to fit in your bathtub. It will hold up to 100 gallons of water. The price of a Waterbob is $ One way to prepare for an emergency water supply is by use of a storage unit called a WaterBob. The WaterBob is a plastic bag which is large enough to fit in your bathtub. It will hold up to 100 gallons of water. The price of a Waterbob is $ o;jsessionid=34338F8A B0 726BD3B06E0F956

Basement Water Storage Your water should be stored in a location that is easily accessible to you. A basement is fine if you are ready, willing, and able to carry that water up and down the stairs. A better solution might be closets, pantries, that sort of thing. Choose someplace cool and dark as that is the best environment to store water. Your water should be stored in a location that is easily accessible to you. A basement is fine if you are ready, willing, and able to carry that water up and down the stairs. A better solution might be closets, pantries, that sort of thing. Choose someplace cool and dark as that is the best environment to store water.

Rotating Water Stored water must be regularly rotated. Figure on a six month schedule for rotation. Use the old water for house plants, pets, and gardens. Stored water must be regularly rotated. Figure on a six month schedule for rotation. Use the old water for house plants, pets, and gardens.

Purifying Water During emergency conditions it is important to learn simple and effective methods of water purification. You can live 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. Clean drinking water is one of our major necessities for life. During emergency conditions it is important to learn simple and effective methods of water purification. You can live 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. Clean drinking water is one of our major necessities for life.

Disasters Man-made and natural disasters are increasing exponentially. In 1960 there were 50 disasters worldwide while in the year 2005 there were 800. Looks like something could possibly happen to us sometime. That's why its important for you to learn the methods of water purification. You don't want to be without clean water. Man-made and natural disasters are increasing exponentially. In 1960 there were 50 disasters worldwide while in the year 2005 there were 800. Looks like something could possibly happen to us sometime. That's why its important for you to learn the methods of water purification. You don't want to be without clean water.

Deaths in a Disaster When there is a disaster, the devastated areas always need clean water right away. Over and over, you see a certain number of people are killed or injured by the disaster, but many more times they die from unclean water. When there is a disaster, the devastated areas always need clean water right away. Over and over, you see a certain number of people are killed or injured by the disaster, but many more times they die from unclean water.

You will run out No matter how much water you store, you WILL eventually run out. Here are five methods of water purification you can use in an emergency situation. No matter how much water you store, you WILL eventually run out. Here are five methods of water purification you can use in an emergency situation.

Low Cost Gravity Water Filter The best emergency water filter is a gravity water filter because it doesn’t require electricity. Gravity water filters can get pretty pricey. Here is a simple, inexpensive gravity water filter that has been tested and proven effective. It filters out 100% of Giardia, E. Coli, and many more harmful substances. The best emergency water filter is a gravity water filter because it doesn’t require electricity. Gravity water filters can get pretty pricey. Here is a simple, inexpensive gravity water filter that has been tested and proven effective. It filters out 100% of Giardia, E. Coli, and many more harmful substances.

Main Parts A Pristine Pioneer Emergency filter or Aquamira Frontier Filter. You can buy one for about $9.00. It can filter about 75 liters. A Pristine Pioneer Emergency filter or Aquamira Frontier Filter. You can buy one for about $9.00. It can filter about 75 liters.

Step One Ditch the cap on the bottle. Using a knife, cut open the bottom of the (empty) bottle to make a funnel. Ditch the cap on the bottle. Using a knife, cut open the bottom of the (empty) bottle to make a funnel.

Step two Ditch the straw. Insert the filter tightly in the bottleneck, making sure the output end of the filter is on the outside of the bottle. With the bottle I used, the seal was quite tight. I guess one could use a length of tape to make it really watertight. Ditch the straw. Insert the filter tightly in the bottleneck, making sure the output end of the filter is on the outside of the bottle. With the bottle I used, the seal was quite tight. I guess one could use a length of tape to make it really watertight.

Step Three Fill the funnel with water, and put it over your bottle. It drips slowly, but take a deep breath... Fill the funnel with water, and put it over your bottle. It drips slowly, but take a deep breath... Now you’re ready to drink, or to treat your water more thoroughly with chemicals or UV. If the water is very dirty, you can cover the input end of the filter with a coffee filter and a rubber band, in which case the flow rate will probably be reduced. Now you’re ready to drink, or to treat your water more thoroughly with chemicals or UV. If the water is very dirty, you can cover the input end of the filter with a coffee filter and a rubber band, in which case the flow rate will probably be reduced.

Water Bottle with Filter Have safe, clean water wherever you go. This portable water bottle with filter accepts water from floods, lake, rain, well, tap, river or stream. It's a complete water filtering system in a bottle. Pack this travel water filter in your suitcase for your next vacation. Put it in your backpack and take it hiking. You can also use it everyday at the office, school, and home. Have safe, clean water wherever you go. This portable water bottle with filter accepts water from floods, lake, rain, well, tap, river or stream. It's a complete water filtering system in a bottle. Pack this travel water filter in your suitcase for your next vacation. Put it in your backpack and take it hiking. You can also use it everyday at the office, school, and home.

Boiling or Pasteurization Boiling water kills ALL the pathogens (germs) in the water. But don’t use your valuable fuel to boil your water. On sunny days you can use a solar oven to pasteurize your water. Boiling water kills ALL the pathogens (germs) in the water. But don’t use your valuable fuel to boil your water. On sunny days you can use a solar oven to pasteurize your water.

Pure Iodine Crystals You can use iodine tablets or liquid iodine, but they have expiration dates. I found iodine crystals that have an indefinite shelf-life. One small bottle will purify 2,000 quarts of water. You can use iodine tablets or liquid iodine, but they have expiration dates. I found iodine crystals that have an indefinite shelf-life. One small bottle will purify 2,000 quarts of water.

Chlorine For less than $20 you can store a year’s supply of chlorine bleach that will purify your water. Use caution when you are using it. 1 Gallon of water is disinfected by 8-16 drops of regular household bleach (about 1/4 of a teaspoon). Double that for cloudy water. Shake and let stand 30 minutes. One teaspoon will disinfect 5 gallons. Immediately after treating, water must initially have a slight smell of chlorine. If it does not - repeat the process. For less than $20 you can store a year’s supply of chlorine bleach that will purify your water. Use caution when you are using it. 1 Gallon of water is disinfected by 8-16 drops of regular household bleach (about 1/4 of a teaspoon). Double that for cloudy water. Shake and let stand 30 minutes. One teaspoon will disinfect 5 gallons. Immediately after treating, water must initially have a slight smell of chlorine. If it does not - repeat the process.

Preparedness Exercise 1 With all of this clearly in mind let’s plan a few preparedness exercises for our next meet-up. With all of this clearly in mind let’s plan a few preparedness exercises for our next meet-up. 1. Evaluate your current water storage plan if you have one. Calculate how much water you should have stored. Remember, figure 2 gallons per person per day. 1. Evaluate your current water storage plan if you have one. Calculate how much water you should have stored. Remember, figure 2 gallons per person per day.

Preparedness Exercise 2 2. Work out a plan to achieve your storage goal. Begin or continue to gather containers that will work for your situation. Be sure they are clean. Do NOT use milk jugs. They are not designed for long term storage and degrade rather quickly, developing pinholes in them. 2. Work out a plan to achieve your storage goal. Begin or continue to gather containers that will work for your situation. Be sure they are clean. Do NOT use milk jugs. They are not designed for long term storage and degrade rather quickly, developing pinholes in them.

Preparedness Exercise 3 3. Figure out a rotation schedule. What you want to avoid is having to dump large quantities of your stored water all at once. The six month rule is a guideline, not set in stone. Use up and replenish a few gallons each week to keep your supply fresh. 3. Figure out a rotation schedule. What you want to avoid is having to dump large quantities of your stored water all at once. The six month rule is a guideline, not set in stone. Use up and replenish a few gallons each week to keep your supply fresh.

The End Thank you for attending this meet- up and I hope that I have enlighten you as to some means by which to store water. Thank you for attending this meet- up and I hope that I have enlighten you as to some means by which to store water.