Basic Preparedness Needs Review
WATER
Water
is one of your most urgent needs in a survival situation. You can’t
live long without it, especially in hot areas where you lose water
rapidly through perspiration. Even in cold areas, you need a minimum of 2
liters of water each day
Water resists any “improvement” in portability and compactness. A gallon of water weighs just over 8 pounds and fills up a space about the size of a basketball… ALWAYS! So you’ll just have to “store, carry, or filter”.
Ideally, you will need a gallon of water per person per day (half a gallon for drinking, the rest for cooking and other uses). If you intend to keep using a flush toilet, you’ll need to look into getting larger water containers (plastic rain barrels are ideal) or look into portable chemical toilets. Keep in mind that the water in your water heater tank is also available for drinking or flushing. At a minimum, make sure you have a toilet that only uses 1.6 gallons per flush (the capacity for most toilets made since 1982).
Avoid storing water in plastic containers for extended periods since they may leach toxins into the water. True, there are certain types of plastic that show no evidence of leaching, but I just avoid the whole controversy by sticking largely with non-reactive materials. FEMA says to avoid glass because of breakability and weight, but I prefer using recycled glass bottles for long-term storage rather than depending solely on suspect plastic. The weight issue doesn’t concern me since I don’t intend to transport the glass containers. On the other hand, if children or clumsy adults are around, you may have to use plastic. If so, just keep plastic bottles away from heat and flush them out or replace them after a year or so.
Try to select storage container types in order to maximize quantity and accessibility. Ask yourself, ” how can I store the most water in the least amount of space while retaining easy access?” First off, if you can’t stack the containers, you’re severely limiting the amount that can be stored. Unless they are in closed cases, you can’t safely stack plastic or narrow neck glass bottles. One storage option often used — the large 5-gallon narrow-necked water bottle – is a challenge for stacking and moving.
Technolithic Recommendations
Bulk Water Storage:
First Need Deluxe Portable Water Purifier by General Ecology: this outstanding, affordable all-around portable unit won a “Gear of The Year” award from Outside magazine. General Ecology’s chemical free “Structured Matrix” purifier technology is the best around. If you like it, buy some extra filters since you’ll need to change them out after 125 gallons. Yes, the filters are about half the price of the full unit, but the filters have all the magic! As an added feature, the tote bag doubles as a water sac and gravity feed kit that permits filtering without pumping. General Ecology also offers a superb upscale version, the “Base Camp Purifier” with a higher output rate and a filter life up to 1,000 gallons, but it’s an expense that can only be justified if you need to provide for more than a small group over an extended period.
Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter: since I’ve used Katadyn’s for quite a while, I had to add one of their great products. Except for viruses, the PRO has about the same performance as the First Need line. This sturdy, compact unit gives solid results, but, once again, if you need to provide water for a large group, you might want consider the more expensive Katadyn Expedition filter.
LifeStraw: this amazing little drinking water device was developed in Switzerland as an inexpensive, quick-impact remedy for the growing lack of safe drinking water in many of the world’s poorer regions. It’s really just a big drinking straw — stick one end in the water and start sucking on the other. Each LifeStraw has an effective life of 700 liters, or about a year’s worth of water for a single person. A combination of seven filters takes out most waterborne bacteria and viruses, but since the present version technically doesn’t have the filter specs to remove Giardia, I can’t rightly recommend it for use in North America. But as thousands of users on other continents can testify, the LifeStraw really does the job, but its makers are moving forward with an upgrade that will officially handle Giardia. In the meantime, I keep them on hand as a kind of “third world” backup. At present, there is no U.S. distributor, but you can get it from the U.K. on the web. Check out LifeStraw in action on YouTube. LifeStraw 2 EA Personal Portable Water Filters
So what should you do if you find yourself in an emergency situation without water?
Your home has a number of place where you can find emergency water.
to maintain efficiency.
More than three-fourths of your body is composed of fluids. Your body loses fluid as a result of heat, cold, stress and exertion. To function effectively, you must replace the fluid your body loses. So, one of your first goals is to obtain an adequate supply of water.
Securing a dependable supply of drinking water may be your greatest challenge. Indeed, the entire world seems to be entering a crisis mode — one-fifth of humanity has no access to safe drinking water and it’s only getting worse. For most everyone reading this, however, there’s still plenty of easily accessible water, but water main breaks, flooding and contamination may change things abruptly. In addition, more regions of the country are facing long-term drought conditions that may break the back of public water systems. Whatever may come, I never want end up standing in line for bottled water.
General Guidelines
More than three-fourths of your body is composed of fluids. Your body loses fluid as a result of heat, cold, stress and exertion. To function effectively, you must replace the fluid your body loses. So, one of your first goals is to obtain an adequate supply of water.
Securing a dependable supply of drinking water may be your greatest challenge. Indeed, the entire world seems to be entering a crisis mode — one-fifth of humanity has no access to safe drinking water and it’s only getting worse. For most everyone reading this, however, there’s still plenty of easily accessible water, but water main breaks, flooding and contamination may change things abruptly. In addition, more regions of the country are facing long-term drought conditions that may break the back of public water systems. Whatever may come, I never want end up standing in line for bottled water.
General Guidelines
Water resists any “improvement” in portability and compactness. A gallon of water weighs just over 8 pounds and fills up a space about the size of a basketball… ALWAYS! So you’ll just have to “store, carry, or filter”.
Ideally, you will need a gallon of water per person per day (half a gallon for drinking, the rest for cooking and other uses). If you intend to keep using a flush toilet, you’ll need to look into getting larger water containers (plastic rain barrels are ideal) or look into portable chemical toilets. Keep in mind that the water in your water heater tank is also available for drinking or flushing. At a minimum, make sure you have a toilet that only uses 1.6 gallons per flush (the capacity for most toilets made since 1982).
Avoid storing water in plastic containers for extended periods since they may leach toxins into the water. True, there are certain types of plastic that show no evidence of leaching, but I just avoid the whole controversy by sticking largely with non-reactive materials. FEMA says to avoid glass because of breakability and weight, but I prefer using recycled glass bottles for long-term storage rather than depending solely on suspect plastic. The weight issue doesn’t concern me since I don’t intend to transport the glass containers. On the other hand, if children or clumsy adults are around, you may have to use plastic. If so, just keep plastic bottles away from heat and flush them out or replace them after a year or so.
Try to select storage container types in order to maximize quantity and accessibility. Ask yourself, ” how can I store the most water in the least amount of space while retaining easy access?” First off, if you can’t stack the containers, you’re severely limiting the amount that can be stored. Unless they are in closed cases, you can’t safely stack plastic or narrow neck glass bottles. One storage option often used — the large 5-gallon narrow-necked water bottle – is a challenge for stacking and moving.
Technolithic Recommendations
Staying Put
As I’ve already said, I don’t use plastic containers for long-term storage, despite the fact that everyone from the Mormons to FEMA says you should. So here’s my recommendation for long-term drinking water storage:
Buy cases of glass-bottled, wide-mouthed, quart-size fruit juices or sports drinks in cardboard boxes or trays (preferably light-colored liquids with reduced sugar and minimal sediment). You can use larger glass bottles, but the weight may become a problem.
Consume the original contents at your leisure, but NEVER DRINK DIRECTLY FROM THE BOTTLES — YOUR MOUTH IS FILTHY!
Wash and thoroughly rinse the bottles and tops (use the hottest water possible with biodegradable dish soap to avoid the nastier forms of soap residue — I use heat-resistant silicon gloves during cleaning).
Refill with filtered tap water and place the bottles back in the original cardboard containers. You’ll want to relabel the bottles as well, since mysterious clear liquids are always unwelcome. With shallow cardboard cases, wrap some clear duct tape around the bottle clusters to keep them more stable.
Full cases can be stacked to a stable height (about shoulder high), especially in a corner or up against a wall. Remember, you will want to be able to safely reach the upper cases.
With this method I can store 21 GALLONS in about the same space taken up by a standing, slightly obese, 6-foot human.
As I’ve already said, I don’t use plastic containers for long-term storage, despite the fact that everyone from the Mormons to FEMA says you should. So here’s my recommendation for long-term drinking water storage:
Buy cases of glass-bottled, wide-mouthed, quart-size fruit juices or sports drinks in cardboard boxes or trays (preferably light-colored liquids with reduced sugar and minimal sediment). You can use larger glass bottles, but the weight may become a problem.
Consume the original contents at your leisure, but NEVER DRINK DIRECTLY FROM THE BOTTLES — YOUR MOUTH IS FILTHY!
Wash and thoroughly rinse the bottles and tops (use the hottest water possible with biodegradable dish soap to avoid the nastier forms of soap residue — I use heat-resistant silicon gloves during cleaning).
Refill with filtered tap water and place the bottles back in the original cardboard containers. You’ll want to relabel the bottles as well, since mysterious clear liquids are always unwelcome. With shallow cardboard cases, wrap some clear duct tape around the bottle clusters to keep them more stable.
Full cases can be stacked to a stable height (about shoulder high), especially in a corner or up against a wall. Remember, you will want to be able to safely reach the upper cases.
With this method I can store 21 GALLONS in about the same space taken up by a standing, slightly obese, 6-foot human.
Bulk Water Storage:
If you have the space outdoors, set up rain barrels
to collect and hold water that can be used for toilet flushing, or with
filtering, can serve as a backup drinking and washing supply.
Portable Toilets:
Portable Toilets:
Most people usually find out the hard way, but sewage
can make an enclosed space — like a shelter or your house —
uninhabitable in short order. If you lose your water supply and you
don’t have backup water to fill the toilets, you’d better invest in a
portable chemical toilet. The simplest ones, like the Reliance Hassock,
work just fine and are very inexpensive. They’re basically a short
barrel with a seat and chemical treatment kit.
Body Cleansing:
Body Cleansing:
Another unpleasant development that usually blossoms in a few days is
body order. Without showers or even extra water for washing, you and
your mates can get pretty ripe. Having pre-moistened handiwipes around
is a good start, but you should pick up few packs of body wipes that
feature large biodegrable pre-moistened sheets that will take care of
your entire body. These are also a great friend to have during an
evacuation.
If you just have to shower now and then, there’s always the trusty solar shower. My favorite is the 5-gallon Marine model from Coleman. You can also go a step further and treat yourself with a battery-powered shower.
Evacuation:
If you’re forced to leave the comforts of plumbing — or your reserve of stored water — there are just a few simple, obvious guidelines. First, be certain you have enough lightweight water containers to carry about a gallon per person (if it’s a vehicle evacuation aim for three gallons per person if possible). Second, be sure to have at least one high-quality portable water purifier system. Remember you’re not preparing for an ultra-lightweight expedition, just trying to get the best of price, portability and performance. Of course, these same portable water purifiers and filters can be used at home if there are alternative water sources nearby.
Bottles:
If you just have to shower now and then, there’s always the trusty solar shower. My favorite is the 5-gallon Marine model from Coleman. You can also go a step further and treat yourself with a battery-powered shower.
Evacuation:
If you’re forced to leave the comforts of plumbing — or your reserve of stored water — there are just a few simple, obvious guidelines. First, be certain you have enough lightweight water containers to carry about a gallon per person (if it’s a vehicle evacuation aim for three gallons per person if possible). Second, be sure to have at least one high-quality portable water purifier system. Remember you’re not preparing for an ultra-lightweight expedition, just trying to get the best of price, portability and performance. Of course, these same portable water purifiers and filters can be used at home if there are alternative water sources nearby.
Bottles:
This is the one instance where it
makes sense to use plastic bottles especially with all the Nalgene and
similar types already in use. If you do, try to stick with #2, #4, #5
plastics. Avoid all others especially those made of Lexan. Sorry for
sounding like a broken record, but the rap sheet on plastics is only
getting longer. If you’re in the market for new bottles, get some of the
lightweight stainless steel types. Buy three or four 32 oz. or 40 oz.
bottles for each person.
Water Purifiers:
Water Purifiers:
There are dozens or
different options for water filters and purifiers (know the difference?)
and doing all the research and trying figure out the best option will
drive you crazy. If you want to take the course, REI has a good “Expert
Advice” feature. Here are my picks with a slight bias for portability
over output:
First Need Deluxe Portable Water Purifier by General Ecology: this outstanding, affordable all-around portable unit won a “Gear of The Year” award from Outside magazine. General Ecology’s chemical free “Structured Matrix” purifier technology is the best around. If you like it, buy some extra filters since you’ll need to change them out after 125 gallons. Yes, the filters are about half the price of the full unit, but the filters have all the magic! As an added feature, the tote bag doubles as a water sac and gravity feed kit that permits filtering without pumping. General Ecology also offers a superb upscale version, the “Base Camp Purifier” with a higher output rate and a filter life up to 1,000 gallons, but it’s an expense that can only be justified if you need to provide for more than a small group over an extended period.
Katadyn Hiker PRO Water Filter: since I’ve used Katadyn’s for quite a while, I had to add one of their great products. Except for viruses, the PRO has about the same performance as the First Need line. This sturdy, compact unit gives solid results, but, once again, if you need to provide water for a large group, you might want consider the more expensive Katadyn Expedition filter.
LifeStraw: this amazing little drinking water device was developed in Switzerland as an inexpensive, quick-impact remedy for the growing lack of safe drinking water in many of the world’s poorer regions. It’s really just a big drinking straw — stick one end in the water and start sucking on the other. Each LifeStraw has an effective life of 700 liters, or about a year’s worth of water for a single person. A combination of seven filters takes out most waterborne bacteria and viruses, but since the present version technically doesn’t have the filter specs to remove Giardia, I can’t rightly recommend it for use in North America. But as thousands of users on other continents can testify, the LifeStraw really does the job, but its makers are moving forward with an upgrade that will officially handle Giardia. In the meantime, I keep them on hand as a kind of “third world” backup. At present, there is no U.S. distributor, but you can get it from the U.K. on the web. Check out LifeStraw in action on YouTube. LifeStraw 2 EA Personal Portable Water Filters
While we’re on the subject of straws, Aquamira
Technologies makes a range of nifty no-pump water filter systems
including called the straw-shaped “Frontier.” It’s only good for 20
gallons, but the Frontier works much the same way as LifeStraw, defeats
Giardia and weighs less than an ounce.
TIPS:
Keep some coffee filters and rubber bands handy — when tapping turbid or muddy water, you can wrap them around the prefilters on the intake tubes to lessen the filtration load on the units.
It’s also a good idea to keep a supply of chemical water purification tablets or liquids on hand (go with chlorine dioxide products — they’re more effective than iodine). Backpacking Light has a concise write-up about the most popular types including my favorite, Katadyn’s MicroPUR 1 tablets.
There’s lots of reading, but there’s also a lot of valuable info all in one place. So stick with it.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Army Survival Manual.
TIPS:
Keep some coffee filters and rubber bands handy — when tapping turbid or muddy water, you can wrap them around the prefilters on the intake tubes to lessen the filtration load on the units.
It’s also a good idea to keep a supply of chemical water purification tablets or liquids on hand (go with chlorine dioxide products — they’re more effective than iodine). Backpacking Light has a concise write-up about the most popular types including my favorite, Katadyn’s MicroPUR 1 tablets.
There’s lots of reading, but there’s also a lot of valuable info all in one place. So stick with it.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Army Survival Manual.
WaterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage - 100 Gal. - Nebudchenezzar Shipworks
Urban Survival – Emergency Water sources
There are a number of things you need to do during a major disaster to ensure that you have the water you need to survive.So what should you do if you find yourself in an emergency situation without water?
- Once a disaster hits you have to act quick. The first thing you should do is find a way to store as much water as possible. Fill your bathtubs, sinks, pots and other large storage containers with water. The average bathtub holds somewhere around 50 gallons of water. Check out the WaterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage it’s a good system to have on hand.
- Immediately shut off your water main to prevent contamination to your hot water heater which is a great source of emergency water.
Where to find water during an emergency.
Your home has a number of place where you can find emergency water.- Hot Water Heater Tank - Your hot water heater is a great source of emergency water.
- Canned Goods – Tuna, canned vegetables, beans and fruit all contain liquids that can be drained.
- If you live in a multilevel home, you can drain the water in your pipes by using gravity to your advantage. After the water lines into your house have been shut off, drain your pipes by using the lowest faucet in your house.
- Toilet Water – In an emergency you can boil the water from the flush tank (not the bowl) of your toilet. I would only use this water as a last resort and only if I was sure it was free of chemicals.
- Rainwater - Use large pots and containers to catch and store rainwater.
- If your really prepared you can actually generate your own water with the EcoloBlue 28 Atmospheric Water Generator while it’s not cheap and you will need a source of power, it may be a great option for those that can afford such a device. The system generates up to 7 gallons of pure drinking water per day from the humidity in the air.
Jul 05, 2012
Due
to the popularity and interest in the LifeStraw Personal Portable Water
Purifier, we decided to run this article again. We are pleased to say
that LifeStraw will donate one Filter to needy people abroad for every
20 they sell.
Jul 30, 2012
Get
a garden hose and attach it to the tank output spigot of your hot water
heater. Open the spigot and fill a pan with the water, try to pass the
water through a strainer with coffee filters lining it. this will filter
out most of the big ...
May 29, 2012
Sale
is Collapsible 5 Gallon Water Jug/Cooler/Survival Canteen NEW!!! This
folding water container is better than ever. It's made from durable,
food-grade polyethylene and has no odor or taste. It is easy to carry
and pour, and ...
 | |
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