RSSSurvival Water – The Vital Ingredient
Aug 29
Survival Water checklist, water 3 Comments
Every survival list must include water. Now most of us are sitting at our home as we read this and don’t really think about having an ample supply of survival water on-hand in case of an emergency. But in fact, water is incredibly important for our survival and health. It is also helpful in some amount for cooking and personal hygiene.
During a normal day, our body needs about two quarts of water per day just to remain hydrated. This amount can change due to many external and even some internal factors. External factors would include the outside temperature, humidity and the wind. Internal factors that could affect the amount of water we need include; what we eat or have eaten and if we are sweating due to exertion or just heat. Stress can also put requirements on our body for more water. If we are in any type of situation that requires us to use our survival water, we are probably under some amount of stress.
So why is water so important to our body? Our body needs water for proper circulation, respiration and digestion. When we become dehydrated, we can suffer from symptoms such as lethargy, headaches, loss of strength, nausea and confusion. Any of these conditions could place us in a life threatening situation or just make a bad situation worse.
In my situation, the odds are pretty good that if something happens, I am going to be at my home or at least most of my family will be home. For this reason, I have decided to store water in case it is needed. I store the water in containers designed specifically to hold water for extended periods. I have cleaned these containers and filled them with filtered water. To this water I have added a treatment to help prolong the storage life of the water.
It is important to note that normal tap water is not well suited for long term storage. Although it is safe to drink, it still contains items that are not going to store well over an extended time. To fill my containers, I have purchased water from one of the machines at the grocery store that filters the water through several different filters and ultraviolet light treatments. This water is them placed into the containers and sealed tightly.
I label the containers with the date I personally feel will be the expiration or rotation date. I use the expiration date when labeling things on my survival list so I do not have to remember how long they can typically be stored. I just look at the expiration date and use them by then.
Please leave a comment and let me know what type of container you use for your water storage.
May 09, 2011 @ 15:05:47
I have stored water in cleaned liter plastic soda bottles…the water has been stored for years (10) in a dark cool container I’ve tested this water by drinking it and it’s still good. Tap water as long as it is not exposed to uv rays, or outside contaminates will store for long periods of time. I am purchasing 5 gallon water containers so that I can store more water and get away from soda containers. What should I put into my storage water to prolong storage time..?
Jun 07, 2011 @ 21:35:26
One of the most common additives for long term storage is unscented liquid chlorine bleach. The amount needed varies depending on who you ask. I have seen it listed anywhere from 8 to 16 drops per gallon so use caution. I just prefer to just rotate my stock periodically and avoid the bleach. Commercial solutions are also an alternative.
As you already mentioned, keeping the containers away from UV rays is very important. These UV rays can affect the plastic over time. If you are planning to switch to 5 gallon containers, this might be a good time to change the water. Most people recommend changing the water after approximately 3 years.
Jul 09, 2011 @ 14:38:30
Good points