There are things people routinely store:
clothes, food, exercise equipment, furniture, antique photographs, etc.
But water? Hmmm, an interesting concept. Believe it or not, the
average person needs to drink at least one gallon of water per day.
And that doesn't include water for important tasks such as bathing or cooking.
So, when an emergency arises, it stands to reason that clean
water is one of the most precious commodities around.
Water storage really is a vital part of
any disaster preparedness process. But what’s the best way to go
about it? Here are three things you must know when storing water:
1. Choose the right container
If you don’t know what to look for in a container, you’ll be
sunk before you even start trying to store water. Key container attributes
include:
·
Size — Strive for a container that holds 14 gallons per family
member.
·
UV yes, BPA no — UV coating keeps light out of your water,
preventing contaminant growth. And you won’t want your unit to have BPA in the material, because this chemical
can seep into the water.
2. Clean the container
Once you have a water storage container, make sure it’s sufficiently clean before
filling it up. Add a teaspoon of unscented household bleach to 1 quart of
water, then let it sit for 30 seconds before pouring out the solution. Your
container is now clean and ready to store water.
3. Change it or preserve it
You should only keep your stored water for about six months before
swapping it out for fresh stuff. But if that sounds like too much of a hassle,
consider using a liquid preserver to boost your water’s shelf life up to
several years. You can also purchase water filters or a water filtration
device.
If a natural disaster occurs, the absolute last thing you can
afford to be without is clean water. Considering how good people are at storing
things, why not put this skill to good use for your family and invest in water
storage?
Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.
Riverwalker
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