Uses For Everyday Items
People You Should Know
Water Storage Basics
Note: We recommend at least a two week supply (14 gallons per person) of water.
Water is essential for survival. We rely on it for life, and can live without it for only a few days. For that reason, storing water is more important than storing food. In emergencies, water may be limited or even cut off. Water should be stored in containers before it is needed; don't wait until an emergency. What you need
A normally active person needs to drink at least two quarts of water each day. Hot environments and intense physical activity can double that amount. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more.
Store at least one gallon per person per day, for drinking, cooking, and washing.
Store water in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, or enamel-lined metal containers. Never use a container that has held toxic substances. Recycle self-stored water every six months.
Emergency Drinking Water Sources
- If a disaster catches you without a stored supply of clean water, you can use water already in your hot water tank, in your plumbing, and in ice cubes. As a last resort, you can use water in the reservoir tank of your toilet (not the bowl), if there is no disinfectant in it and it is purified first.
- Waterbeds hold up to 400 gallons, but some waterbeds contain toxic chemicals that cannot be fully removed by purifiers. If you designate a waterbed in your home as an emergency resource, drain it yearly and refill it with fresh water containing two ounces of bleach per 120 gallons. Or use the water only for toilet flushing.
- To use the water in your pipes, let air into the plumbing by turning on the highest (elevation) faucet in your house and draining the water from the lowest one.
- Locate the water inlet / shutoff valve for your location. Learn how to operate the valve properly and have the necessary tool nearby.
Households should routinely store enough water in advance to last at least 3 days. Allow one gallon of water per person/per day for drinking and additional water for family pets. Drinking water should be stored in food-grade plastic containers and kept in a cool, dark place. Consumers may bottle their own emergency water supply in sterilized containers with tight-fitting lids or purchase commercially bottled water. Commercially bottled water (sealed and air-tight), has a one-year shelf life. Home-bottled water can be stored for six months. In either case, stored water should be dated and replaced at appropriate intervals. (Once expired, the water is safe to use on indoor or outdoor plants.)
Water In a Pinch
If you don't have an emergency water supply on hand and find yourself without water, you can take these steps to disinfect the water in your hot water heater:
- Open the water heater using the spigot at the bottom.
- Strain the water through a clean cloth to remove any sediment
- Mix the water with a household chlorine bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution. Do not use bleach solutions containing perfumes or colors.)
- For one gallon of clear water, use 8 drops of bleach; for cloudy water, use 16 drops.
- Let the water stand for 30 minutes.
- If you do not smell a slight chlorine odor, repeat the disinfection process.
How you can help in an emergency...
If there are power outages, normal water service may be disrupted because electricity may not be available to operate electrical pumps that refill water storage tanks as the water is consumed. In such situations, all customers should refrain from using water for non- essential purposes until electrical power is restored.
When power is out, water companies use gasoline motor-driven portable pumps and fire department pumps to pump water into tanks. However, these are emergency measures designed to provide minimal levels of water service on a temporary basis.
Even customers with electrical power could be asked to limit their water consumption - because the water tanks that serve them may be located in neighborhoods without electrical service.