Water is one of the most important elements needed for survival. Storing only water filters is not enough! Do you think your family could survive for two weeks with the amount of water you have stored now? If not, get busy and fill up those containers! Water can be stored in almost any container, but not all containers will make your water safe for drinking.
Use food-grade water storage containers made of thick plastic to store water for drinking. One should store enough water for at least one gallon per person per day. A good rule of thumb is to store at least one 55-gallon barrel of water per person. Never store water containers directly on cement, as the cement will leach chemicals into your water. Place a board under your water containers or prop them up somehow. Always leave enough room for expansion if you store containers in the garage because in the winter they may freeze and expand.
Before filling containers with clean water, wash the storage container with dishwashing soap and water, and completely rinse with clean water before filling.
Avoid using the following containers to store safe drinking water:
- Containers that cannot be sealed tightly
- Containers that can break, such as glass bottles
- Containers that have ever been used for any toxic solid or liquid chemicals (includes old bleach containers)
- Plastic or cardboard bottles, jugs, and containers used for milk or fruit juices
Fill drinking water containers using a clean RV hose. Do not use a regular garden hose. A used garden hose harbors harmful bacteria, which will contaminate the water that flows through it.
Whatever you do, do something! It's better to have SOME water on hand than NO water on hand. Fill up whatever containers you have. Fill up your empty soda or juice bottles. If you have empty liquid laundry soap containers, fill them up! You can use the water in these kinds of containers for washing hands, dishes or laundry. If you have empty milk jugs, rinse them out, fill them up and stick them in the freezer so that when the power goes out, you'll have ice to keep the food in your fridge or freezer cold for as long as possible.
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