Intro.
Nothing kills more people in the world than water-borne diseases. Nothing. By World Health Organization estimates 3.4 million people die every year from water-related illness. A report in the British medical journal Lancet estimated 4,000 children die every single day from water-borne illnesses. Most of these are not disaster related deaths, but disasters and water-borne illnesses go hand in hand.
Why? Floods overwhelm treatment plants, sewage gets in the water, water mains rupture and contaminate the municipal system. Water-treatment plants sometimes just go offline during a disaster and before they can be fired up again they have to pass Federal water safety standards. That doesn’t mean you won’t have clean looking water coming through your pipes during an emergency–it just means that no matter what it looks like, don’t trust it.
There’s a legion of nasty little microbes that find water to be a nice home, and they come in the form of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, and parasites. And they all will have you doubled-over in stomach pain. Adults can handle a lot of these viruses, but children are particularly susceptible, so don’t take any risks here.
Deadly diseases like Amebiasis, Campylobacteriosis, Cholera, Giardiasis, Shigellosis, Typhoid Fever, and many others are found in contaminated water. And there is no going around your need for water every single day.
If there’s one part of preparation you need to take seriously it’s to secure an emergency source of clean water for your family. One of the best sources on the web is the State of Washington’s public health site. Click here to see it.
Here are the basics. (IMPORTANT. this applies to water contaminated by bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, and parasites). If you suspect your water is chemically contaminated don’t drink it).
Storage of Water
- If a disaster is on its way fill up every available container you have for water. Also fill up your bath tub and sinks–those won’t be sanitary but you can purify the water later. The key is to have enough on hand.
- Plan on a three-day supply of water. At a minimum, store at least one gallon of water per person per day. Many experts suggest two gallons per person per day.
- This should go without saying, but use a safe water supply source. Your municipal water supply is protected by the EPA and strict water-quality laws. However, the water is designed to be safe up to the point that it gets to your home, not necessarily for long-term storage.
- What to use for storage? Thoroughly washed plastic containers such as soft drink bottles are a good choice. You can also purchase food-grade plastic buckets or drums. In an emergency you can also use heavy-duty plastic freezer bags–a good trick mentioned in Cody Lundin’s urban-disaster book, When All Hell Breaks Loose.
- Standard recommendations suggest replacing water every six months, and that’s a safe rule of thumb. Use it. However, properly stored, and sealed, water can keep for years.
- DO NOT use containers that previously contained chemicals–not even in a pinch. The chemicals can leach into your rainy-day water supply.
Filter Dirty Looking Water First
- Cloudy water, filter it first.
- Coffee filters and cheese cloth are items usually found in a household that can be used to filter water.
Purify Your Water By Boiling or Bleach
- Boiling. To purify your water by boiling it, bring it to a full boil for one minute. Let the water cool. The ongoing heat in the water will continue working to kill the bad things living in it. Don’t be tempted: wait until the water is cool before drinking it.
- Bleach. Chlorine bleach, like good ‘ol Clorox, for example, can be used to purify water. I’ve tried it and it doesn’t taste that bad. Think of drinking swimming pool water. Not the best glass of water you’ve ever had, but drinkable. Do not use dyed or scented bleach.
- Bleach Amounts. Add 1/8th of a teaspoon per gallon, or 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons of water from your tap. Mix and let sit for 30 minutes. For surface water, very cold water, or extra-cloudy water, increase the amount of bleach to 1/4 teaspoon per gallon, or 2 teaspoons per 10 gallons. Again, mix, and let sit for 60 minutes.
Coming Soon. Distillation for chemically contaminated water.
