https://www.superprepper.

com/water-storage/

How to Make an Emergency Water Plan

Updated on August 17, 2018

John Walter

John Walter is an emergency preparedness consultant with eight years of experience and training
in related fields. He is a passionate prepper living in the Sacramento area of California.
When the average person thinks about preparing their family for an emergency, they usually
focus on food and often neglect water. Humans can survive up to three weeks without food but
only three days without water. Having an emergency water storage plan is extremely critical.

Prepping takes both knowledge and forethought. It is very helpful to have an emergency store of
water to fall back on but you should also prepare yourself by knowing where you can find
sources of water during a disaster.

The Importance of Having an Emergency Water Plan

In third world countries, when the local water supplies are compromised, disease is not far
behind. This is because the body needs to be well hydrated for the immune system to work. Also,
without water the population can’t keep their hygiene to an acceptable level which also
contributes to infections and the spread of disease.
In even the smallest localized emergency, it is not uncommon for residents to experience what it
is like to turn on their faucet only to see a few drops come out. Having water stored away will
not only ensure you and your family are well comfrotable during a crisis but that they can remain
healthy and sanitary.
Don’t go crazy buying only bottled water. It is important to diversify your water stores.
Step 1 – Decide How Much Water to Store for an
Emergency
How much water you store in case of an emergency is up to you. It is always smarter to err on
the side of too much as opposed to too little. This is especially true when it comes to water.
Water is not only used for drinking but washing and cleaning too. If absolutely no water is
coming out of the tap, you may find yourself using some of your stored water for bathing also.

Keeping yourself clean and your living environment sanitary is incredibly important during a
disaster. Otherwise you can find yourself prone to disease and sickness. When you are in the
midst of a long term survival situation, the last thing you want to do is find yourself needing
urgent medical care.

Here are some basic rules for determining the amount of water you should store:

Minimum – 1 gallon of water per person, per day: This is widely considered to be the bare
minimum for the human body to survive. Therefore if you have 50 gallons of water stored away,
then you could theoretically survive 50 days. Or two people could survive for 25 days.

Recommended – 2 gallons of water per person, per day: This is because you need additional
water for cleaning and as a means to keep your environment sanitary. Also, there may be a day
or two where your body requires additional water intake (sickness, strenuous work, etc). You do
not know what kind of situations you’ll be in, so be prepared for any.

For example, for a family of four to store the recommended amount of water to survive a 30 day
event, you would need to store away 240 gallons.

Step 2 – Choose a Type of Water Container to Use

Most of us realize the benefits of storing water in large versus small containers. However, it may
be helpful to quickly read through the pro’s and con’s of each to gain a better understanding of
what may be best for you and your family. For this section, I am considering “large containers”
to be any water receptical 55 gallons in size and larger. Small containers are anything less than
that, down to your average water bottle. Here are the pro’s and con’s to both methods:

Large Containers (55 gal +)

Many people like to store significant amounts of water for an emergency in large containers such
as 55 gallon drums, 275 gallon water totes (pictured below), or even 2000+ gallon water tanks.
This is a great way to put away a large quantity of water but don’t forget that this means the
water is not portable. Also, if the water tank is compromised then you may loose a large portion
of your emergency supply of water.
A 275 gallon food grade water tote is a popular way to store large quantities of water. These can
be found for between $80 – $120 on the surplus market.

Pro’s:

 Allows storage of many gallons of water in the smallest possible area.

 Containers are easy to fill with tap water.
 Generally inexpensive for the number of gallons it can hold.
  Possible to treat many gallons of water at a time (for storage or disinfection).

Con’s:

 Extremely difficult to move.

 If the container is compromised, many gallons of water can be lost.

Small Containers

Using smaller containers of water is a great way to prepare for an emergency for many reasons.
Anyone can pick up an extra case or two of water next time they are at the grocery store, and in
the event that the water needs to be used, having individual bottles is extremely convenient. As
an added benefit, if one bottle is damaged and leaks, you wont lose your entire water supply.
Putting away cases of bottled water is an easy way to store a very portable water source.

Pro’s:

 Lighter weight and easy to carry.

 If one container is compromised, relatively little water is lost.
 Small empty water containers have many other uses.
 Allows for easy distribution to others.

Con’s:
  More expensive than storing tap water.
 Easier to move means it’s easier for others to steal.

Step 3 – Learn Where to Find Water in Your Home During

a Disaster
There are many places throughout your home where you can find some water in case of an
emergency. Below are a few of the best places to look in your home, where you may already
have water available to you and not even know it.

Disclaimer
We at SuperPrepper.com are not doctors or
scientists. We are merely a group of passionate
preppers sharing what we learn as we go. Always
consult with a professional before consuming any
water from a questionable source.

Water Heater – Water heaters store 50 gallons or more of drinkable water. Open the bottom
drain valve (usually a white plastic or brass colored valve) to retrieve the water. Be sure you turn
off the gas or electricity to the water heater first, failing to do this could cause serious damage to
your water heater or even cause a fire. This wont work if you have a tank less water heater.

Water Pipes – There is almost always at least a few gallons of water tied up in the water pipes
of your house. Open the faucet at the highest point in your house to assist in the drainage of the
pipes, then open the lowest faucet (or garden hose) and collect the water.

Toilet – This sounds gross but it is a very good source of 3 to 5 gallons of water. In general, the
water in the top part of the toilet should be safe to drink. It might be a good idea to disinfect it
first to be sure. Or you can use it for cleaning/washing purposes to be safe.

Fish Tanks – The most common types of fish tanks hold up to 55 gallons of water. You
definitely want to disinfect or purify this water before consuming it though. Treat it the same as
water you would take from a lake or pond.

Pools/Hot Tubs – These hold an insane amount of water and can be a true blessing in a survival
situation. The water in them certainly can be used for cleaning/bathing purposes or for watering
your garden. Whether this water is safe for human consumption seems to still be open for debate.
If one were completely out of options and going to attempt to drink this water, I would filter it
through a carbon based filter (to remove chemical and biological contaminants). Also, if the pool
or spa’s filter isn’t running, the water can go stagnant fairly quickly.
Water Beds – Treat the water from a water bed similarly to how to treat water from a pool. It’s
best to use this water for washing purposes only as there is often times chemical additives in this
water.

Camper/RV – If you own a camper, RV, or motor home you may want to take a look at the
fresh water (or “potable water”) tank. There may be some left over water from your last family
vacation you can use. Note: It is always good to be in the habit of keeping this water tank full at
all times.

Remember that some of the above mentioned sources of water require you to chemically treat
and/or filter the water before drinking it. When it doubt, it is always best to treat the water as if it
needs purification. Water from water heaters, water pipes, and a camper/RV water storage tanks
generally should all be fine to drink without any further treatment necessary.
The black arrow points to the water drain valve on this water heater. The valve will either be
white or brass colored and opening it can get you 50 gallons or more of drinking water. Make
sure the water heater is off if you attempt this.

Step 4 – Diversify Your Water Storage

Just like anything else in life, it is important to diversify. You should not have all of your water
stored via one method. You should also not only have large containers of water and no portable
water bottles (and vice versa). Have multiple different sources of water is incredibly important.
Figure out where your weakness is in your emergency supply, and build it up starting from your
weakest point.

For example, if you are plenty of bulk amounts of water stored in large containers and plenty of
small bottles available as well, consider another source. Maybe adding a pond to your property
can not only be beautiful, but very valuable in a disaster situation. Or consider an “as it is
happening” type water storage solution that will allow you to quickly supplement your water
supply as an emergency is first unfolding (such as a WaterBOB).

Water Storage with a WaterBOB

WaterBOB Emergency Water Kit

I thought this product was worth mentioning as it is a good option for people who don’t have a
lot of free space to store large quantities of water.

I used to live in an apartment for many years and needless to say, it had very limited storage
space. I kept one of these WaterBOB’s on standby just in case. If disaster strikes (or is about to
strike), you fill it with tap water from your bathtub faucet. A food grade plastic liner keeps the
water fresh and clean to drink. Once filled, you leave the bag in the bathtub and use the included
hand pump to pump out water as it is needed. This will hold a minimum of 65 gallons of water
for emergency use.

If you can find a large plastic food grade bag that has a small opening which can be easily closed
off, you may be able to save the money and make your own WaterBOB. Make sure it is large
enough to expand to the size of a bathtub.
Check the current price of the WaterBOB here.

Step 5 – Have a Way to Replenish Your Water

Figure out some way that you can replenish your emergency water supply if disaster strikes. If
you are forced to rely on what you’ve stored, you don’t want it to be a limited supply that you
watch slowly dwindling away to nothing, hoping that the disaster will resolve itself before you
run out of water.

Consider using the satellite view option in google maps to help you locate water sources near to
you. There may be a few that you didn’t know existed. Another option is to set up a rain water
collection system on your property to replenish your water supply. Having a backup source of
water that replenishes itself can be very reassuring when hard times strike.
A rain water collection system such as this can help you replenish your water supply in an
emergency situation.

Conclusion
The above steps should help you get started in addressing the weaknesses in your emergency
water preparations. After planning how you will approach ensuring your water needs are met in a
local or region wide disaster, make sure you learn ways you can purify water easily and exactly
how you go about treating tap water before storing it.

https://www.superprepper.com/storing-tap-water/

How to Store Tap Water for Emergencies

Updated on August 17, 2018

John Walter

John Walter is an emergency preparedness consultant with eight years of experience and training
in related fields. He is a passionate prepper living in the Sacramento area of California.
By now I don’t need to tell you the importance of storing water for an EMP, hurricane,
earthquake, financial collapse, civil unrest, or any other major disaster. Water is extremely
important (humans are made up of at least 70% water) and going without can cause death in a
matter of three days. If you don’t want to buy your emergency water from a store, learn how to
treat tap water for long term survival situations.

Summary of Steps
Description Notes

Step
Choose a Container Pick a container made of food grade plastics (HDPE 2).
1

Step Minimum amount of water: 1 gallon per person per day.

Fill Container from the Tap
2 Recommended: 2 gallons per person per day.
 Description Notes

Step Test the Chlorine Levels and Use a test kit to make sure chlorine content is between 2 and 4
3 Adjust if Necessary ppm. Use a water treatment if necessary to raise chlorine levels.

Step Find a Place to Store the

Store your water out of direct sunlight in a cool, dark area.
4 Water

This is a brief summary of the steps needed to prepare and store tap water for emergencies. Please see the following sections for additional
information.

Preparing Tap Water for Long Term Storage

Everyone should have some professionally manufactured water bottles stored away. You never
know when you might have to grab these and leave in a hurry. Small water bottles are extremely
portable.

However, it is not very practical to store enough small water bottles to supply you and your
family with the water you need to survive a long term disaster that could cause a disruption in
basic utilities. Bottled water can also cost a considerable amount if you are attempting to store
enough to last a year or more. Tap water isn’t free, but it’s definitely the cheapest water you can
probably get your hands on.

That’s why most preppers will store large quantities of tap water in large containers.

Here I will discuss some of what’s involved in putting away your own tap water for the long
term. Keep in mind there are many different opinions about the best methods to accomplish this.
I will cover the most widely accepted and used method.

Step 1 – Choose a Container for Long Term Storage of Tap

Water
There are about as many different container choices for water storage as you can imagine. You
could use anything from five gallon water containers all the way up to thousand gallon (or more)
commercially available storage tanks.

What you choose is entirely up to you. Remember that you never want to store 100% of your
emergency water in one large tank. Having a large tank is fine, and actually a great way to store
a significant quantity of water, but if it leaks or gets contaminated you don’t want your entire
water supply compromised. Always diversify your water stores.

Here are some of the most popular choices:

 Container Type Typical Size Price

5 Gallon Check Price

Stackable Storage Containers

5 Gallon Check Price

Collapsible Storage
Containers
 Container Type Typical Size Price

5 Gallon Check Price

Office Water Cooler Bottles

55 Gallon Check Price

Water Barrels or Drums

$80 - $120
275 - 330 Gallon
Used

IBC Totes
 Container Type Typical Size Price

250 - 400 Gallon Check Price

Family Sized Water Storage

Tanks

500 - 10,000
$800 - $5,000
Gallons

High Capacity Water Storage Tanks

 Stackable Storage Containers: These containers are manufactured specifically for long term
water storage and typically come in two different sizes: 5 or 7 gallons. These will cost a bit of
money, but if you want your water to remain portable and still be in a quality container, this is
the way to do it. The plastics used in the construction of these containers will not leach
chemicals into your water and these products quite durable. They are also made of an opaque
colored plastic, keeping light inside to a minimum and therefore inhibiting bacterial growth.
 Collapsible Storage Containers: These containers most commonly come in the 5 gallon size. The
container itself is made from flexible food grade plastics which makes it easy to store it in a
small space when it’s empty. These are great for short term storage of water (for a vacation,
camping, etc) but not ideal for long term storage. Although the plastic is generally thick high
quality plastic, they can be prone to leaks or punctures when stored full of water for years on
end. Also, they are not stackable, making it difficult to store large quantities of these containers
when full.
 Office Water Cooler Bottles: These 5 gallon containers are what you generally see at your office
upside down in a water cooler. They are fairly inexpensive and use quality plastics that will also
not leach chemicals into your water. These are generally made of fairly clear plastic which
means you will have to be extra careful to store them in a dark area as light will encourage
bacteria growth in the water. They are available online or even often times at local stores (such
 as Walmart). Being only 5 gallons makes them fairly portable if you need to leave your house in
a hurry. Get the type that have handles built into the plastic for added mobility.

Disclaimer
We at SuperPrepper.com are not doctors or
scientists. We are merely a group of passionate
preppers sharing what we learn as we go. Never
drink water from a questionable source. Always
consult with a professional first.

 Water Barrels or Drums: These containers are used in the commercial world to store foods,
syrups, industrial solvents, chemicals, petroleum, and more. The plus side is that these are
widely available as they are used in so many applications. This keeps their prices low and also
means you have many options to get great deals on used 55 gallon containers. The down side is
you have to be extremely careful if you buy a used one to store your water supplies in. If they
have been used previously for anything except food grade storage, you could have seriously
dangerous contaminants in your water. For this reason, I strongly suggest you buy these new
and not used. These are also heavy and difficult to move.
 IBC Totes: IBC stands for “Intermediate Bulk Container.” These are generally larger containers
that usually come in 275 or 330 gallon in sizes. You can store more water in these than the
previous examples while still being confident that it will be safe to drink when disaster strikes.
These are definitely not mobile once they are filled (they weigh a minimum of 2,200 lbs when
full) but they hold a lot of water and can be found fairly cheaply. They are used in the food and
restaurant business quite a bit. They are often either thrown away once they are empty, or sold
on second hand markets (such as on Craigslist). They can usually be found for between $80-$120
used. Just like with used water barrels or drums, please be extremely careful that you do not use
one that ever contained anything besides consumable products (such as syrups, sauces etc). If it
ever contained any chemicals in the past, it can contaminate your water making it unsafe to
drink.
 Family Sized Water Storage Tanks: These are generally over 100 gallons in capacity and made to
be stored at home. Most preppers will put something like this in their garage as they are often a
similar size to a water heater. If they are specifically constructed for water storage then they are
safe for long term storage and you need not worry about chemicals leaching in the water over
time from the plastics used during construction. These are not considered portable and are only
fitting for someone who is preparing to stay in place during a long term disaster.
 High Capacity Water Storage Tanks: High capacity tanks are generally 500 gallons or more and
are meant to be installed in place and not moved. These are a great way to store lots of water at
home or at your bug out location. If possible, installing one of these on a hill or raised above
ground level is best to ensure constant water pressure. Before you buy one of these, make sure
it is FDA approved for drinking water.
Having water during a disaster is not just critical for drinking purposes, but also for sanitation
purposes.

Can I Just Store Water in Used Milk Jugs?

Using old milk jugs as a container to keep emergency water in is not a good idea. The plastics
used in milk jugs will leach into the water over time making your water smell and taste like
chemicals. Drinking two year old water that was stored in a milk jug tastes like you are drinking
solvent. Not to mention that these containers are structurally very weak. After a few years the
plastic use in these containers become brittle and will often spring a leak.

Best Types of Plastics to use for Long Term Water Storage

If you plan to store water in a plastic container for the next EMP, hurricane, earthquake, or any
other crisis, you need to make sure you choose the right type of container. Some plastic
containers are not made for this purpose and therefore will leach harmful chemicals into your
drinking water over time.

To ensure the container you choose is safe for long term water storage, make sure it is “food
grade.” Most of these containers will also have a “HDPE 2” (which stands for high density
polyurethane type 2).
NOTE: Not all “HDPE 2” labeled plastics are safe for water storage. They also have to be “food
grade” to be considered safe.

The Best Type of Plastic to Use

Always store your water supply in high density polyurethane type 2 plastics. These containers
will have an imprint, usually on the bottom, that says “HDPE 2” (pictured above). It is also
important that it be “food grade” plastic that was never used to store dangerous chemicals.

Step 2 – Fill Your Water Container from the Tap

This is a pretty simple step, just fill it up. Make sure to keep the inside of whatever container you
are using clean while filling. If you are filling a storage tank with a garden hose, make sure to
keep the end of the hose out of the water as it may not be sanitary.

Step 3 – Test the Water’s Chlorine Levels and Adjust if

Needed
One of the most common questions preppers have when it comes to storing water is:

Can I store water long-term straight from the tap, or does it need to be treated first?
The answer to this question isn’t exactly as straight forward as one might think. Tap water does
vary between municipalities which means in some areas you may be fine to store it right from
the tap and in other areas you might need to treat it first.

What determines whether it is safe to store straight from the tap or not is the chlorine content of
the water. All municipal water supplies have chlorine added to the water to improve taste and
ensure the water does not contain harmful bacteria. The level of chlorine that is in the water
determines whether or not it will be safe to store without treatment.

The reason for this is because water that sits for a long period of time has a higher risk of
growing harmful bacteria. You want the water you store to be at the high end of the safe range
for chlorine. Per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), drinking water can have a
chlorine content of up to 4 ppm (parts per million) and still be very safe to drink. Most municipal
water supplies have a chlorine content of between 1 to 4 ppm. You should store the water with a
chlorine content near the top of that range (2 to 3 ppm would be ideal).

Not all tap water needs to be treated before being stored. You should check its chlorine content
to know for sure.

How to Tell If You Need to Treat Your Tap Water for Storage

There are a few ways to tell if you have the correct amount of chlorine for storage in your tap
water already.

Method 1 – Use Your Sense of Smell: When the chlorine level is high enough that you can
detect it by smell (i.e. the water has an extremely faint chlorine smell to it) then you are at about
the top of the ideal range for storage. This method, however, is not as reliable as others as it is
based on the human sense of smell which can vary from person to person. The best way is to
check the chlorine levels with a test kit.

Method 2 – Use a Chlorine Test Kit: A standard swimming pool test kit can be used or you can
get a chlorine level test kit specifically made for testing a water supply relatively inexpensively.
These test kits are easy to use and will measure the chlorine content of the water in ppm’s. With
most of these kits, you take a sample of the water and dip the test strip into the water for a few
seconds. The test strip will then turn a certain color. You then compare the color of the test strip
with a provided color shade chart, match up the color, and the chart will tell you the chlorine
content of the water.

Adjusting the Chlorine Content of Your Water

Once you have determined the chlorine content of your water, you will need to make adjustments
as necessary to obtain a chlorine content of between 2-3 ppm. If your municipal water supply
isn’t within the ideal chlorine content range for long term storage (many supplies aren’t) then
you will need to treat it prior to storage.

Raising the Chlorine Levels: Raising the chlorine levels is relatively easy and can be done with
regular store bought unscented concentrated liquid bleach. When you buy bleach for this purpose
make sure that the active ingredient is sodium hypochlorite (NaOCI) with a concentration of
between 5.25% and 6%. It is also critical to ensure that it is standard bleach with absolutely no
additives (such as scented bleach). Some manufactures add Sodium Hydroxide as an active
ingredient as well. This additional active ingredient is safe and will not pose any health risk
when purifying water.

Water Preserver Concentrate

If you would prefer, you can get this Emergency Water Preserver Concentrate to raise chlorine
levels for convenience of use, but keep in mind that this product is merely regular household
unscented concentrated liquid bleach. However it is in a convenient dropper bottle.

Check Price

Start by adding of 3 drops of bleach per gallon,

then recheck chlorine levels.
If you are treating five gallons of tap water at a time, start by adding about 16 drops (or 1/8
teaspoon) of bleach and then recheck the chlorine levels. Repeat this until you have the desired
amount of chlorine in the water. Remember, 2 to 3 ppm is ideal but up to 4 ppm is considered
safe. When you reach the desired levels of chlorine, write down how much bleach it took so you
will know how much bleach to add in the future to your specific type of tap water.

Lowering the Chlorine Levels: Lowering the chlorine level in your water supplies is fairly
difficult. Most people need to raise the levels of chlorine in their municipal water supplies prior
to storage. If you make a mistake by adding too much chlorine it is best to dump out the water
and start over. If you must remove chlorine from a supply of water, these are the most common
ways of accomplishing this:

1. Evaporation – Chlorine evaporates, and you can speed this process up by aerating the water. A
popular method is to dump the water back and fourth between two containers which will
introduce air bubbles to the water. You can also use an air pump from a fish tank to do this as
well.
2. Filtration – Run the water through a carbon based water filter. Carbon very effectively removes
chlorine and other chemical particles from water.
3. Dilution – Add distilled water or any other type of water with a lower chlorine level. Adding
water with a lower chlorine level will dilute the water causing lower levels of chlorine.
The higher you can get your emergency water supply, the more pressure you will get when you
need to use it.

Step 4 – Find a Place to Store the Water

Now you should have your water treated, sealed in a suitable container, it’s time to find a place
to store it. So where should you store your emergency water preps? In order to accomplish the
indefinite shelf life you need to ensure no light is getting into the water and that it is stored at a
constant temperature.

Room temperature is fine (65°F – 72°F), but cooler is better as it will help to inhibit microbial
growth. Usually a garage will stay at a fairly constant temperature level especially if it is on the
lower level of a two story house. Other good options are basements, crawl spaces, or cellars.
What is the shelf life of stored tap water?
If your water is properly treated and stored, it should have and indefinite shelf life. The only
thing that may degrade over time is the taste of the water. This is because the small particles of
air in the water will work their way out over time and the water becomes less aerated (creating a
flat taste). Luckily this is easy to fix, just aerate the water by dumping it back and forth a few
times between two containers. This will get fresh air mixed back into the water and restore the
taste.

Conclusion
Take the precautions outlined here and it should be almost impossible for bacteria to grow in
your water, ensuring your water will be ready when you need it. When the next major disaster
hits, you don’t want to be worrying if you water preparations are good to go. You’ll have plenty
of other things to worry about!