Having enough water is an important part of being a prepared individual. Luckily, it’s a topic that has been written about many times before!
Most people underestimate how much water they need for daily life. Most experts agree you should have at least one gallon (3.78 litres) of water per person per day to be considered well-hydrated.
This amount can vary depending on your activity level and weather conditions. Some people may need more than this if they go hiking or exercise outside frequently.
Water helps keep us healthy by acting as a solvent to help flush out chemicals from our bodies. If we don’t drink enough, however, our bodies will begin to absorb some harmful substances instead!
By having a stock pile of water, you’ll know you have enough to meet your daily needs even during a crisis. Also, because it’s easy to transport, you’ll be able to spread out your drinking opportunities. This can make a big difference when you’re busy spending time looking for clean water and/or resources to buy it.
Long-Term Water Storage Solutions
For those that have a large amount of space, investing in individualized water storage systems is your best bet. These are very expensive, however!
There are several different types of long term water storage solutions. Some of the more common ones include:
Water buckets with spouts to drink directly from
Sealable plastic bags or glass bottles you can buy at most grocery stores
Ceramic bowls that preserve heat well and can be heated up for drinks
Toilet tanks (yes, really)
The last two options are not ideal since they may not be aesthetically pleasing nor practical when it comes to filling them up. But if you know someone who has a empty toilet tank, these are great alternatives!
“Store away from light and air to preserve integrity and increase shelf life,” says Leah on her organization’s tips for storing water. “Avoid leaving water exposed as it will quickly become contaminated.
Two-Week Water Storage Options
One of the best ways to organize your water storage is by how long you have to use it. Obviously, the longer you can wait to drink your water, the better!
Most people agree that one week’s supply of drinking water is enough for an average person. But what about if someone was eating very healthy and staying in shape? A one-week supply might not be enough then!
Many experts suggest storing three days’ worth of food along with your three day supply of water. This way you will never run out of either unless something happens.
Experts also recommend keeping an additional two weeks’ supply just in case there is a natural disaster or epidemic that shuts down the water system. This would give you some extra time to find more accessible supplies.
Water purification systems are another helpful item to have. These cost money, however. Only buy ones that are clearly labeled as safe to use. Some fad products that claim to make good water taste better may not be worth the price tag.
One Month or More Water Storage Options
Finding your favorite way to stock up on water is like finding new favorites of any other food group – there’s always more you could put it onto, more ways to use it, and newer ideas to try!
That’s what makes this challenge so fun for us because we get to keep trying out new things in our quest to be fully stocked with water!
There are many different types of containers that people use to store their water. Some people prefer glass bottles while others choose plastic ones due to cost effectiveness.
Either one is fine, but remember that both can break if taken by accident or intentional vandalism. Make sure to research your best bet depending on which situation you find yourself in.
For example, if someone broke into your home and took everything they could, then chances are they would take your bottle storage too. If this happened when traveling, you may not know how much water you have until you get back home.
Luckily, these days you can buy inexpensive filtered water bottles that help prevent bacteria from entering your liquid supply. These are very helpful if you’re conscious about whether or not the water was purified before being stored.
Back-Up Water Solutions
Having a source of clean, drinkable water is one of the most important things you can have in preparation for any kind of disaster.
The average person has enough stored food to last them three months at best! Stocking up on additional water is an excellent second step to help ensure their survival.
Most people start by buying a large jug or bottle of purified water, but this isn’t very helpful if you don’t know how to use it.
Common Questions About Water Storage
One of the biggest questions people have is how to organize their supplies of drinkable water. There are several good strategies for storing water, so it’s important to know what works for you and your family.
The easiest way to begin stockpiling water is by buying one large glass container per person. This can be done as individual bottles or in one larger jug.
Once you have that down, then you should look into purchasing some type of bucket or pitcher. These don’t need to be expensive, but make sure they are sturdy and will last.
Some people prefer plastic buckets over metal ones due to cost and ease of use. However, neither option is totally safe unless you treat it with caution.
Never pour acid onto plastic containers, nor mix chemicals together in a plastic container.
Do I need to rotate my water every year?
While it is not essential for health, research does show that changing your water source can help prevent illness.
You don’t have to drink the exact same volume of water each day, but you should try to stay well hydrated by drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses per day.
Studies suggest that people who live in areas with plentiful groundwater may be less likely to suffer from dehydration than those living near surface water sources.
However, there are times when leaving water out or having runout can make you sick. So even though we recommend keeping a stock pile, it’s important to know how to use and conserve water if this happens.
Drinking alcohol removes some of the liquid from our bodies, which can lead to dehydration. Also, water makes up around half of an individual’s weight, so staying heavy requires enough fluid intake.
Conserving water includes avoiding drinks that contain sugar (plain white bread also contains sugar!), using tea instead of coffee, and limiting direct exposure to sunlight while still seeking adequate sun exposure. This helps reduce skin cell production, which takes away moisture.
If you experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fatigue, then it’s time to reevaluate how much water you’re ingesting and how well you’re hydrating yourself.
Do I need to treat my water with chlorine before I store it?
While some people believe that adding chlorine to your water is a good way to preserve its purity, this isn’t always the case. Adding too much chlorine can actually have the opposite effect!
Chlorine was originally invented as an effective disinfectant back in the 1800s. Since then, however, it has become very common for most municipal drinking water supplies to contain excess chlorination. Because of this, many individuals don’t realize how well chlorine works as a preservative.
When you expose something to chlorine, it reacts chemically with the chlorine and forms a more stable molecule. This means that thechlorine is protected longer, which gives it time to either bounce off or combine with other molecules.
This process happens quickly, usually within a few minutes, but it does not occur instantly. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you do not over-chlorguarded bottles of water.
Because excessive amounts of chlorine can be harmful, there are ways to avoid this. One option is to buy purified bottled water, but even those aren’t completely free from contaminants.
Do I need to boil my stored water before I drink it?
As we have mentioned, the best way to ensure your drinking water is safe is by boiling it for at least one minute. This process removes almost all of the chemicals in the water!
However, there are some instances where having just plain old clear bottled water would be enough. For example, people who live close to nature or that enjoy swimming may not require the additional step of boiling their water because they get thirsty quickly.
But unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. After all, you don’t know what kind of contaminants could potentially exist in the water around you. It wouldn’t hurt to make sure though, as long as you aren’t trying to drink those last few drops.