Water! ¡Agua H2O!
There have been times when the water supply was affected where I was, or I have heard of other places where safe drinking water was not available. Flint, Michigan, comes to mind, where, from 2014 to 2025, it struggled to provide residents with drinking water. For a whole decade, residents had to buy bottled water while the city repaired contaminated pipes. Just a reminder that even our water supply can have problems.
Until a person is forced to live without the convenience of running water from their faucets, they don’t realize how much water they use each day. The general recommended water storage is 1 gallon per person per day. That’s how much it is recommended a person drink. It doesn’t account for all the water we use to cook, clean, wash hands, take baths, water plants, and pets. An average American family of four uses approximately 400 gallons of water per day, or about 12,000 gallons per month. About 70% of that occurs indoors, with toilets, showers, and clothes washers being the highest consumers.
There are several options for storing water. The easiest way is to buy cases of bottled water from the store and keep them in a cool, dark place. I have a water dispenser that uses five-gallon jugs. This makes rotating simple because we fill the jugs as we use them. Rotation is key to keeping the water storage supply fresh and safe for drinking. Even the bottled water you get from the store has an expiration date.
You can also use 2-liter soda bottles to store water. These are widely considered acceptable for emergency water storage by sources such as Ready.gov (FEMA), university extension services (e.g., Oregon State, Utah DEQ), and preparedness guides. 2-liter bottles work well because they are made of food-grade plastic, they are durable, have secure screw-on caps, and are less prone to leaking than thinner plastics. The best part is they’re inexpensive, readily available, and easy to store in small spaces like under the bed, in closets, or under the sink. Properly prepared, they can hold water for months to years if rotated.
How to Prepare 2-Liter Bottles Safely
- Wash thoroughly with dish soap and hot water; rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Sanitize: Add a solution of 1 teaspoon unscented chlorine bleach per quart of water. Swish it around to contact all surfaces, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
- Fill with clean tap water (or treated water) to the top, leaving minimal air space. Use the original cap (avoid touching the inside).
- Label with the fill date and “Drinking Water”.
- Store in a cool, dark, dry place away from sunlight, heat sources (over 95°F/35 °C), chemicals, gasoline, or pesticides. Ideal temperature: 50-70°F.
How much water should a person store? As much as you can. There’s no replacement for having safe drinking water on hand. But if your stored supply runs low, you’ll need reliable ways to purify questionable water from sources like rainwater, rivers, lakes, or even suspect tap water. The goal is to remove or kill harmful germs (bacteria, viruses, protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium), sediments, and some chemicals, though no method removes all toxins (e.g., heavy metals or industrial chemicals; avoid those sources if possible).
Official guidance from CDC, FEMA, EPA, and the Red Cross consistently prioritizes these water purification methods (as of recent sources, such as 2024-2025): boiling, bleach, filters, and chemical tablets or drops. Always follow local health department instructions first during an actual event.
Key Principles Before Any Purification
- If water is cloudy or dirty: First, let large particles settle (a few hours), then pre-filter through a clean cloth, coffee filter, paper towel, or layered fabric to remove sediment. This makes other methods more effective.
- Boiling is the safest and most reliable method for killing germs when you have fuel/heat.
- Combine methods for best results (e.g., filter + disinfect).
- These treat biological contaminants; they don’t make chemically polluted water safe.
Main Water Purification Methods for Emergencies
- Boiling (CDC’s top recommendation)
- Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 full minute (count from when it starts boiling vigorously).
- At elevations above 6,500 feet: Boil for 3 minutes.
- Let it cool in a covered container.
- Pros: kills bacteria, viruses, and protozoa (including Cryptosporidium and Giardia). Improves the taste of flat stored water.
- Cons: Requires fuel/fire/stove; not practical if power is out long-term or no heat source.
- Best for: Most situations when you can boil.
- Household Bleach Disinfection (Chlorination – Backup when boiling isn’t possible)
- Use unscented, regular household bleach (5-9% sodium hypochlorite; check the label; no “color-safe” or scented versions).
- Dosage (for clear water):
- Add 8 drops (about 1/8 teaspoon) per gallon.
- For cloudy water (after pre-filtering): Double to 16 drops (1/4 teaspoon) per gallon.
- Stir well, wait at least 30 minutes before using (longer if very cold water).
- Water should have a slight bleach smell; if not, repeat and wait another 15-30 minutes.
- Pros: Cheap, easy, kills most bacteria and viruses.
- Cons: Less effective against some protozoa (like Cryptosporidium); doesn’t remove sediment or chemicals. Taste can be off (let sit longer or aerate to improve).
- Tip: Add a small bottle of unscented bleach to your emergency kit.
- Portable Water Filters / Purifiers (Great for long-term or no-heat scenarios)
- These are mechanical devices that physically remove contaminants.
- Types that work well in emergencies:
- Straw-style (e.g., LifeStraw): Drink directly through; good for personal use.
- Pump or gravity-fed (e.g., Sawyer, MSR, or Berkey-style systems): Filter larger volumes; many remove bacteria, protozoa, and some viruses.
- Look for filters rated 0.3 microns or smaller (or NSF/ANSI certified for bacteria/protozoa removal).
- Pros: No fuel needed; reusable; some last thousands of gallons.
- Cons: Won’t remove viruses unless specified (some combo with chemical treatment); can clog with dirty water (pre-filter first); more expensive upfront.
- Popular, reliable options: British Berkefeld, Berkey systems, Sawyer Mini/Squeeze. Test and store one if prepping for the long term.
- Chemical Tablets or Drops (Iodine, Chlorine Dioxide)
- Follow package instructions exactly (e.g., Aquatabs, Potable Aqua, or chlorine dioxide like Katadyn Micropur).
- Chlorine dioxide is effective against bacteria, viruses, Giardia (but less so Cryptosporidium).
- Iodine works against bacteria/viruses but not reliably against protozoa; it is not ideal for pregnant women or for long-term use.
- Wait time: Usually 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the product.
- Pros: Lightweight for kits; no heat needed.
- Cons: Taste issues; some health restrictions.
- UV Purification (Portable pen-style devices)
- Uses ultraviolet light to kill/disable germs.
- Requires clear water (pre-filter first) and batteries.
- Pros: Quick, no chemicals.
- Cons: Less reliable in turbid water; batteries die; not always top-recommended by CDC for core emergencies. I probably would not worry about using this method.
Quick Comparison (Effectiveness Against Common Threats)
- Boiling: Excellent (all biological threats)
- Bleach: Good (bacteria/viruses; fair vs. protozoa)
- 0.3-micron Filter + Chemical: Very good (combo covers most)
- Chlorine Dioxide Tablets: Good to excellent
- UV: Good if the water is clear.
Pro Tips for Your Kit
- Stock multiple methods (e.g., stored water + bleach + portable filter + boiling pot).
- Practice once, purify a batch of questionable water to build confidence.
- For tornado-prone areas, focus on no-power methods like bleach/filters since storms can knock out electricity/gas.
- If water smells like chemicals or fuel, don’t treat it; find another source.
These steps can literally save lives when municipal water fails. If you’re building a kit for a family or specific risks (e.g., flooding near rivers), let me know or feel free to ask me questions. Stay prepared!
