How To Store Water For Emergency Preparedness

Being prepared for an emergency can save you a lot of hardship should a catastrophe hit. Many people believe that having a supply of food, water, gasoline, cash, and light sources on hand will come in handy should one of the following occur:

• Natural disasters such as a hurricane, flood, or earthquake

• Fallen tree limbs that make roads impassable

• Power outages that make it challenging to purchase necessities without cash

• Solar flares or nuclear attack

If you lose electricity, having emergency supplies on hand can make the inconvenience easier to manage. Since each person or pet requires a gallon of water per day, you’ll need to plan for storing a large amount of water in the event of a long-term power outage.

Here are some steps to take when storing water to ensure it remains safe to drink.

Select a location for water storage

According to Ready.gov’s website, you should store at least one gallon of water per person for three days, for both drinking and sanitation.

Keep water in a spot that is cool and dark. Leaving water out in the open can put it at risk of theft if conditions lead to looting due to lack of resources. Thus, it’s also essential to have security steps in place to keep your water safe.

Store water in a crawl space, garage, or another area that’s not visible to people outside your home. You can retrieve containers from a cabinet, plastic storage tub, or shelving when necessary. You can also keep water inside a locked cabinet until you need to use it. Select a location away from electrical wires and outlets for safety reasons.

Use Proper Packaging

If you’re storing packaged water bottles, it is a good idea to cover them with a piece of solid-colored cloth to help keep light away from the liquid inside. A solid-colored container works best for the storage of water. Make sure storage solution is plastic or glass. Cardboard can disintegrate over time, leaving the water at risk of contamination.

When storing tap water, add a half a teaspoon of 1% concentration of sodium hypochlorite bleach per gallon before sealing the containers. You can also complete this step a half-hour before consuming the water inside the container. It is important to keep a bottle of bleach on hand for disinfecting purposes.

Regularly check supply and expiration dates

Label water containers with the date of their collection. Plastic water bottles will have an expiration date already stamped on each bottle. It is important to drink water before the expiration date if possible. If you collect tap water, be sure to consume it within six months of the collection date.

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Allison Clark is a senior writer for Brinks Home. She enjoys educating others on the benefits of smart home security and using technology to simplify everyday life.