How do you store water?

It is critical for you to have water on hand because it can take over a week for your water supply to be restored after a disaster or emergency. Businesses may be closed, and the retail price of water may increase. Storing water is as simple as determining how much you need and the best way to store it in your home.


How much water do you need?

Individual needs vary, depending on age, health, physical condition, activity, diet and climate, however the basic guideline is to store 2 gallons per person per day for 7 days. In other words, each person should store 14 gallons of water for a 1-week emergency supply.

Calculate how much water you should store.

How many people are you storing water for including yourself?

A one week supply of emergency water for one person is 14 gallons (2 gallons per person per day).


What are different storage methods?

Based on your water needs and space available in your home, you may choose to store water in one of the ways shown below. You should follow container manufacturer instructions for storage and maintenance of your emergency water supply, but in general you should store the water in a cool, dark place or a temperature-controlled environment. You should also replace emergency water that was not purchased from a store every six months. If using store-bought water bottles, ensure you purchase BPA-free plastic.


Barrels 55 gallons per barrel
Disguise both large and small water barrels as tables inside your home to save space. Purchase
Bricks 3-7 gallons per brick
Store water bricks under beds, in closets, or any other temperature-controlled room. Purchase
Cans 12 ounces per can
Store in cupboards, shelves, bookcases, or anywhere else that can sustain the weight. Purchase
Collapsible 3-5 gallons per unit
Use this to fill immediately at the time of an emergency; fold and tuck away when not in use. Purchase

Source: East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD)


How do you sterilize water?

If you have used all of your stored water and there are no other reliable clean water sources, it may become necessary to treat water so that it is safe to use.

Treat all water of uncertain quality before using it for drinking, food washing or preparation, washing dishes, brushing teeth or making ice. In addition to having a bad odor and taste, contaminated water can contain microorganisms (germs) that cause diseases such as dysentery, cholera, typhoid and hepatitis.


Boiling Water

Boiling is the safest method of treating water. In a large pot or kettle, bring water to a rolling boil for one full minute, keeping in mind that some water will evaporate. 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 also will improve the taste of stored water.

Chlorination

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, color safe bleaches or bleaches with added cleaners.

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 chlorine, 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 or 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite as the only active ingredient, are not recommended and should not be used.

Distillation

While boiling and chlorination will kill most microbes in water, distillation will remove microbes (germs) that resist these methods, as well as heavy metals, salts and most other chemicals. Distillation involves boiling water and then collection of only the vapor that condenses. 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.

Source: Ready.gov


What should you do before and during a water shut-off?

An overview of tasks to complete and information you should have before and during a water outage.