Storing up on WaterStoring up on WaterFor Sophia ClassFor Sophia Class

Delmarva Survival TrainingDelmarva Survival TrainingJoseph ParishJoseph Parish

joseph.parish@survival-training.infojoseph.parish@survival-training.infoSeptember 26, 2012September 26, 2012

For Disasters Only?For Disasters Only?

Many people equate Many people equate the storage of food the storage of food and water with major and water with major disasters but it is disasters but it is really for the more really for the more personal crisis such as personal crisis such as loss of employment or loss of employment or self sufficiency. During self sufficiency. During this meet-up we will this meet-up we will concentrate upon concentrate upon storing up on water.storing up on water.

The Need for Clean WaterThe Need for Clean Water

Clean, potable water Clean, potable water is a life necessity is a life necessity especially during times especially during times of emergency. Without of emergency. Without sufficient water we sufficient water we would fail to stay alive. would fail to stay alive. We use water for a We use water for a variety of uses ranging variety of uses ranging from cleaning from cleaning ourselves to preparing ourselves to preparing our food. Having a our food. Having a plentiful supply of plentiful supply of water during and after water during and after a disaster cannot be a disaster cannot be stressed enough. stressed enough.

Why Store up on WaterWhy Store up on Water

Throughout our Throughout our meet-ups we stress meet-ups we stress having dehydrated having dehydrated food supplies in the food supplies in the event of any event of any disaster. These food disaster. These food supplies would be supplies would be useless unless we useless unless we can supply water to can supply water to re-hydrate them re-hydrate them once again.once again.

Example 1Example 1

Suppose you lived in a Suppose you lived in a city of 200,000 and there city of 200,000 and there is only one route that food is only one route that food and other necessities and other necessities arrive from. This route arrive from. This route leading to your city is over leading to your city is over a mountain pass which a mountain pass which received a record snow received a record snow fall during the winter. If fall during the winter. If the stores start to run out the stores start to run out of supplies would you not of supplies would you not be glad that you stored be glad that you stored up?up?

Example 2Example 2

We all know of a friend We all know of a friend who may have been going who may have been going through a tough moments through a tough moments being unemployed for an being unemployed for an extended period of time. extended period of time. In cases as this food and In cases as this food and water storage would water storage would come in handy. Disasters come in handy. Disasters happen all the time. They happen all the time. They are not always extreme are not always extreme but it is best to be but it is best to be prepared for them.prepared for them.

Self SufficiencySelf Sufficiency

Not only will our Not only will our supply of water offer supply of water offer us a measure of us a measure of insurance against an insurance against an upcoming crisis but if upcoming crisis but if our goals are self our goals are self sufficiency it will sufficiency it will compliment our efforts compliment our efforts in those areas as well. in those areas as well. We encouraged a We encouraged a years supply of food years supply of food and water to hold us and water to hold us over until better days over until better days appear on the horizon.appear on the horizon.

Amount of Water NeededAmount of Water Needed

It is recommended It is recommended that we store at that we store at least one gallon of least one gallon of water per person water per person per day. A better per day. A better estimate would estimate would likely be two gallons likely be two gallons to compensate for to compensate for cooking and other cooking and other water needs. The water needs. The more water you can more water you can store the better.store the better.

ProblemProblem

The problem with The problem with storing such vast storing such vast amounts of water is amounts of water is they are extremely they are extremely heavy and can be heavy and can be difficult to store in difficult to store in massive quantity. massive quantity. Unfortunately, we can Unfortunately, we can not dehydrate water to not dehydrate water to shrink it down. It will shrink it down. It will take up a lot of space take up a lot of space in your home or in your home or retreat.retreat.

Water HeaterWater Heater

Look back to the list Look back to the list you made after our last you made after our last meet-up where you meet-up where you calculated how much calculated how much water you have store water you have store up. Did you include the up. Did you include the water in your water water in your water heater? The average heater? The average water heater will hold water heater will hold about 30 gallons or about 30 gallons or enough water to last a enough water to last a family four several family four several days.days.

Do The MathDo The Math

How many days How many days could your family could your family last on the water last on the water you have stored up? you have stored up? Do the math at this Do the math at this time. If you have time. If you have four people in your four people in your family and you have family and you have 40 gallons stored at 40 gallons stored at 2 gallons per day 2 gallons per day you have enough for you have enough for five days. five days.

Best Ways to Store WaterBest Ways to Store Water

What are the best ways What are the best ways to store water? You can to store water? You can use cleaned out soda use cleaned out soda bottles. A 2L bottle is bottles. A 2L bottle is equal to about half a equal to about half a gallon and are easy to gallon and are easy to store. There are various store. There are various size containers made size containers made just for storing water. just for storing water. Several retailers sell 7 Several retailers sell 7 gallon containers and gallon containers and most of them have a most of them have a built in spigot for ease built in spigot for ease of use.of use.

Commercial Bottled WaterCommercial Bottled Water

You could purchase You could purchase commercially commercially bottled water. But, bottled water. But, this can be this can be expensive and expensive and really the water really the water isn’t much better isn’t much better than what is than what is available in many available in many homes free from homes free from the tap.the tap.

Alternate Water SupplyAlternate Water Supply

Some folks advise that if Some folks advise that if you have the time to do you have the time to do so in an emergency, fill so in an emergency, fill up your bathtub. Not a up your bathtub. Not a bad plan but how many bad plan but how many of you have bathtubs of you have bathtubs clean enough to drink clean enough to drink from at any given time? from at any given time? Of course, the water Of course, the water from the tub could be from the tub could be used for other purposes used for other purposes such as cleaning.such as cleaning.

Bath Tub WaterBath Tub Water If you use your tub If you use your tub

water cover the filled water cover the filled tub to keep out dust. tub to keep out dust. You can buy shower You can buy shower curtain liners at most curtain liners at most dollar stores and these dollar stores and these will work well. Merely will work well. Merely drape it over the tub drape it over the tub and use books or and use books or something on the sides something on the sides to keep it in place. If to keep it in place. If you go this route in a you go this route in a crisis use only the cold crisis use only the cold faucet tap so you don’t faucet tap so you don’t empty your water empty your water heater.heater.

WaterBobWaterBob One way to prepare for an One way to prepare for an

emergency water supply is by emergency water supply is by use of a storage unit called a use of a storage unit called a WaterBob. The WaterBob is a WaterBob. The WaterBob is a plastic bag which is large plastic bag which is large enough to fit in your bathtub. enough to fit in your bathtub. It will hold up to 100 gallons of It will hold up to 100 gallons of water. The price of a Waterbob water. The price of a Waterbob is $29.95.is $29.95.

http://www.waterbob.com/http://www.waterbob.com/Welcome.do;jsessionid=34338Welcome.do;jsessionid=34338F8A6248746B0726BD3B06E0FF8A6248746B0726BD3B06E0F956956

Basement Water StorageBasement Water Storage

Your water should be Your water should be stored in a location stored in a location that is easily accessible that is easily accessible to you. A basement is to you. A basement is fine if you are ready, fine if you are ready, willing, and able to willing, and able to carry that water up and carry that water up and down the stairs. A down the stairs. A better solution might better solution might be closets, pantries, be closets, pantries, that sort of thing. that sort of thing. Choose someplace cool Choose someplace cool and dark as that is the and dark as that is the best environment to best environment to store water.store water.

Rotating WaterRotating Water

Stored water must Stored water must be regularly be regularly rotated. Figure on rotated. Figure on a six month a six month schedule for schedule for rotation. Use the rotation. Use the old water for house old water for house plants, pets, and plants, pets, and gardens.gardens.

Purifying WaterPurifying Water

During emergency During emergency conditions it is important conditions it is important to learn simple and to learn simple and effective methods of water effective methods of water purification. You can live 3 purification. You can live 3 minutes without air, 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food. Clean weeks without food. Clean drinking water is one of drinking water is one of our major necessities for our major necessities for life.life.

DisastersDisasters

Man-made and natural Man-made and natural disasters are increasing disasters are increasing exponentially. In 1960 there exponentially. In 1960 there were 50 disasters worldwide were 50 disasters worldwide while in the year 2005 there while in the year 2005 there were 800. Looks like were 800. Looks like something could possibly something could possibly happen to us sometime. happen to us sometime. That's why its important for That's why its important for you to learn the methods of you to learn the methods of water purification. You don't water purification. You don't want to be without clean want to be without clean water.water.

Deaths in a DisasterDeaths in a Disaster

When there is a disaster, When there is a disaster, the devastated areas the devastated areas always need clean water always need clean water right away. Over and right away. Over and over, you see a certain over, you see a certain number of people are number of people are killed or injured by the killed or injured by the disaster, but many more disaster, but many more times they die from times they die from unclean water.unclean water.

You will run outYou will run out

No matter how much No matter how much water you store, you water you store, you WILL eventually run WILL eventually run out. Here are five out. Here are five methods of water methods of water purification you can purification you can use in an emergency use in an emergency situation.situation.

Low Cost Gravity Water Low Cost Gravity Water FilterFilter

The best emergency water The best emergency water filter is a gravity water filter filter is a gravity water filter because it doesn’t require because it doesn’t require electricity. Gravity water electricity. Gravity water filters can get pretty pricey. filters can get pretty pricey. Here is a simple, Here is a simple, inexpensive gravity water inexpensive gravity water filter that has been tested filter that has been tested and proven effective. It and proven effective. It filters out 100% of Giardia, filters out 100% of Giardia, E. Coli, and many more E. Coli, and many more harmful substances.harmful substances.

Main PartsMain Parts

A Pristine Pioneer A Pristine Pioneer Emergency filter or Emergency filter or Aquamira Frontier Aquamira Frontier Filter. You can buy Filter. You can buy one for about one for about $9.00. It can filter $9.00. It can filter about 75 liters. about 75 liters.

Step OneStep One

Ditch the cap on Ditch the cap on the bottle. Using a the bottle. Using a knife, cut open the knife, cut open the bottom of the bottom of the (empty) bottle to (empty) bottle to make a funnel.make a funnel.

Step twoStep two

Ditch the straw. Insert Ditch the straw. Insert the filter tightly in the the filter tightly in the bottleneck, making bottleneck, making sure the output end of sure the output end of the filter is on the the filter is on the outside of the bottle. outside of the bottle. With the bottle I used, With the bottle I used, the seal was quite the seal was quite tight. I guess one tight. I guess one could use a length of could use a length of tape to make it really tape to make it really watertight.watertight.

Step ThreeStep Three Fill the funnel with water, Fill the funnel with water,

and put it over your bottle. and put it over your bottle. It drips slowly, but take a It drips slowly, but take a deep breath...deep breath...

Now you’re ready to drink, Now you’re ready to drink, or to treat your water more or to treat your water more thoroughly with chemicals thoroughly with chemicals or UV. If the water is very or UV. If the water is very dirty, you can cover the dirty, you can cover the input end of the filter with input end of the filter with a coffee filter and a rubber a coffee filter and a rubber band, in which case the band, in which case the flow rate will probably be flow rate will probably be reduced.reduced.

Water Bottle with Filter Water Bottle with Filter Have safe, clean water Have safe, clean water

wherever you go. This wherever you go. This portable water bottle portable water bottle with filter accepts water with filter accepts water from floods, lake, rain, from floods, lake, rain, well, tap, river or well, tap, river or stream. It's a complete stream. It's a complete water filtering system in water filtering system in a bottle. Pack this travel a bottle. Pack this travel water filter in your water filter in your suitcase for your next suitcase for your next vacation. Put it in your vacation. Put it in your backpack and take it backpack and take it hiking. You can also use hiking. You can also use it everyday at the office, it everyday at the office, school, and home. school, and home.

Boiling or PasteurizationBoiling or Pasteurization

Boiling water kills Boiling water kills ALL the pathogens ALL the pathogens (germs) in the (germs) in the water. But don’t use water. But don’t use your valuable fuel your valuable fuel to boil your water. to boil your water. On sunny days you On sunny days you can use a solar can use a solar oven to pasteurize oven to pasteurize your water.your water.

Pure Iodine CrystalsPure Iodine Crystals

You can use iodine You can use iodine tablets or liquid tablets or liquid iodine, but they have iodine, but they have expiration dates. I expiration dates. I found iodine crystals found iodine crystals that have an that have an indefinite shelf-life. indefinite shelf-life. One small bottle will One small bottle will purify 2,000 quarts purify 2,000 quarts of water. of water.

ChlorineChlorine For less than $20 you can store For less than $20 you can store

a year’s supply of chlorine a year’s supply of chlorine bleach that will purify your bleach that will purify your water. Use caution when you water. Use caution when you are using it. 1 Gallon of water are using it. 1 Gallon of water is disinfected by 8-16 drops of is disinfected by 8-16 drops of regular household bleach regular household bleach (about 1/4 of a teaspoon). (about 1/4 of a teaspoon). Double that for cloudy water. Double that for cloudy water. Shake and let stand 30 Shake and let stand 30 minutes. One teaspoon will minutes. One teaspoon will disinfect 5 gallons. disinfect 5 gallons. Immediately after treating, Immediately after treating, water must initially have a water must initially have a slight smell of chlorine. If it slight smell of chlorine. If it does not - repeat the process.does not - repeat the process.

Preparedness Exercise 1Preparedness Exercise 1

With all of this clearly With all of this clearly in mind let’s plan a few in mind let’s plan a few preparedness exercises preparedness exercises for our next meet-up.for our next meet-up.

1. Evaluate your 1. Evaluate your current water storage current water storage plan if you have one. plan if you have one. Calculate how much Calculate how much water you should have water you should have stored. Remember, stored. Remember, figure 2 gallons per figure 2 gallons per person per day.person per day.

Preparedness Exercise 2Preparedness Exercise 2

2. Work out a plan to 2. Work out a plan to achieve your storage achieve your storage goal. Begin or continue goal. Begin or continue to gather containers that to gather containers that will work for your will work for your situation. Be sure they situation. Be sure they are clean. Do NOT use are clean. Do NOT use milk jugs. They are not milk jugs. They are not designed for long term designed for long term storage and degrade storage and degrade rather quickly, rather quickly, developing pinholes in developing pinholes in them.them.

Preparedness Exercise 3Preparedness Exercise 3

3. Figure out a rotation 3. Figure out a rotation schedule. What you schedule. What you want to avoid is having want to avoid is having to dump large to dump large quantities of your quantities of your stored water all at stored water all at once. The six month once. The six month rule is a guideline, not rule is a guideline, not set in stone. Use up set in stone. Use up and replenish a few and replenish a few gallons each week to gallons each week to keep your supply fresh.keep your supply fresh.

The EndThe End

Thank you for Thank you for attending this attending this

meet-up and I hope meet-up and I hope that I have that I have

enlighten you as to enlighten you as to some means by some means by which to store which to store

water.water.