3 Things to Know When Storing Water

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?

This guest post is a courtesy of Food Insurance ™.

Be aware. Be informed. Be prepared.

Riverwalker