woman drinking a glass of water with a v-neck light gray t-shirt on.

Emergency Water Storage

Emergency Water Storage is a smart thing for every parent and adult to have. You don’t know when a natural disaster, a chemical leak, or other unexpected water shortage will occur. Because of parents’ responsibility to protect their family, they should be prepared for emergencies of all kinds.

To be prepared for a water emergency, I have stored water in a number of different containers. Recently I revamped my emergency water storage tanks. This is what I recently stocked up on and would recommend to anyone looking for a responsible way to store 2 weeks worth of emergency water.

Hedpak 5 Gallon Water Tank

  • BPA Free Plastic
  • 5 Gallon capacity
  • Hedpak is constructed of high density polyethylene (HDPE) – molded graduations, in 1/2 gallon increments
  • Large 70 mm threaded neck for easy filling
  • Fits a variety of dispensing faucets and taps for easy shelf dispensing
  • Molded carrying handle on top and finger recess on bottom for easy handling
  • Delivered to your door through Amazon.

Link is HERE:

I have also bought two of these Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration Systems for my family. I think that both a water storage and portable Sawyer Squeeze filter is necessary because the 5 gallon water tanks will hold water that my family can access immediately. Our water storage would run out if we were dependent on the emergency water storage for a long period of time. The portable Sawyer Squeeze is useful to filter rain water, stream and lake water, or swimming pool water. This would be a life saving option if we needed to supplement our drinking water for a long period of time or found ourselves on the go.

My husband and son are long distance hikers. The Sawyer Water Filter below is their favorite. It is light, but faster than the mini Sawyer Squeeze.

Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter

Link HERE:

  • Lightweight, easy to use portable water filter removes harmful bacteria, protozoa, cysts, sediment, and 100% of microplastics; Perfect for outdoor adventures, travel, or emergency preparedness
  • High-performance 0.1 Micron absolute inline filter fits in the palm of your hand and weighs just 2 ounces; 100% of Micro Squeeze units individually tested three times to performance standards by Sawyer
  • Built-in and removable flip top sports cap; spray water straight into mouth or bottle from included pouch; also fits standard water bottles with 28 mm threads
  • Includes two reusable 32-oz, BPA-free collapsible pouches that roll up tightly for easy packing, drinking straw, one set of Sawyer Inline Hydration Pack Adapters for filter, and mesh storage bag
  • Backed by manufacturer’s lifetime limited (independent testing laboratory Hydration, LLC.; Microbiological Report S05-03)
  • Delivered to your door through Amazon.

Using the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System

Duncan and J.D. have used the water bags and Smart Water bottles, which have a matching thread to the Sawyer Squeeze. The squeeze bag is good for squeezing filtered water into your mouth or another container, but isn’t as convenient for collecting. The 1/2 liter or liter Smart Water bottle is the best because they have thicker plastic that will pop back out after filling or squeezing. You probably have noticed that bottled water manufacturers have been producing thinner water bottles to save plastic. For some reason Smart Water has maintained a thicker plastic for their bottles. The liter Smart Water bottle is very common with hikers. To clarify, the reason they like the Smart Water bottles is because of the bottle, not because of the water in the bottle. The water is great, yes, but they use the bottle over and over and over again to fill with stream water and drink through the Sawyer Squeeze Mouth piece repeatedly for days on the trail.

Link for Smart Water:

More Information About Emergency Water Storage

(The following information is from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is experienced in storing for emergencies and educating families and countries all around the world to be prepared.) Use only food-grade containers. Smaller containers made of PETE plastic or heavier plastic buckets or drums work well. Clean, sanitize, and thoroughly rinse all containers prior to use. A sanitizing solution can be prepared by adding 5 ml (1 teaspoon) of liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) to 1 liter (one quart) of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.

Do not use plastic milk jugs, because they do not seal well and tend to become brittle over time. Do not use containers previously used to store non-food products.

Water Pretreatment

First, Water from a chlorinated municipal water supply does not need further treatment when stored in clean, food-grade containers. Non-chlorinated water should be treated with bleach. Arizona and Utah have enough chlorine in their water that it is not necessary to add bleach before storing. Add 8 drops of liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) for every 4 liters (one gallon) of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.

Storage

Next, Containers should be emptied and refilled regularly. Store water only where potential leakage would not damage your home or apartment. Protect stored water from light and heat. Some containers may also require protection from freezing. The taste of stored water can be improved by pouring it back and forth between two containers before use.

Water Purification

Lastly, If your water supply is not known to be safe or has become polluted, it should be purified before use. Water purification is generally a two-step process.

Clarify – Cloudy or dirty water must first be made clear. It should be passed through filter paper, fine cloth, or some other filter. It should be allowed to settle, and then the clear water on top can be carefully drawn. Filtered or clear settled water should always be disinfected before use.

Disinfect – Bringing water to a rolling boil for 3 to 5 minutes will kill most water-borne microorganisms. However, prolonged boiling of small quantities of water may concentrate toxic contaminants if present.

Commercial Water Filters Such As the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration Systems

Commercial water filters can effectively filter and purify water contaminated with microorganisms, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals. Their effectiveness depends on design, condition, and proper use.

Conclusion

In conclusion, water is more essential in sustaining life than food is, so it is one of the first items you should collect for emergencies. Although it is difficult and impractical to store water in large quantities, experts recommend that you keep a two-week emergency supply of water on hand, because natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes may pollute or disrupt water supplies for that long. You should store at least fourteen gallons per person—seven for drinking and seven for other uses.