How can you store water in case of long-term emergencies?

We are preparing an emergency supply of drinking water in case of emergencies.

In recent years, you can see how the number of natural disasters - tornadoes, droughts or floods - has increased. Now they can appear in different parts of the planet. Imagine that a severe storm and an earthquake hit the locality where you live at the same time. In Oklahoma, this situation was dubbed the term “Quackenado” - when an earthquake coincides in time with a tornado.

Even if your home is not damaged, there is a high probability that your home will be without electricity and water. You will hear news that the power grid has been damaged throughout the area and the water supply is down. You will be advised that it will take services at least a week to fully restore the water supply system in the city. How much water do you have left in your home? Will it be enough to last you and your family until clean water flows through the pipes again? How much water will be enough to survive these days? All questions will be answered by the material on the Art for manliness resource.

The process of depletion of natural water reserves

There is a sharp increase in population on Earth, and urbanization is happening very quickly. The natural resources of our planet, unable to be replenished, are wasted thoughtlessly. Such resources include water and its sources, as of 2017, have already begun to deplete. Already, around the world, approximately 500 million people are affected by the problem of lack of drinking water. According to the results of long calculations by experts, this figure will grow every year and by 2025, 2 billion more people will suffer from the lack of fresh resources, and by 2050 the number of victims will be 4 billion. The problem of clean drinking water will be especially acute in Asia (Western countries) and North Africa.

When there is not enough clean water for consumption, more and more people (currently over 1 billion) turn to potentially dangerous sources to obtain water. When a person drinks contaminated water, he runs the risk of getting sick from various ailments, because the muddy liquid may contain dangerous substances and pathogenic bacteria. The risk is the same for people of different ages, and these diseases in countries that are at the development stage take the lives of many children.

How much water does one person need per day?

outdoorrevival.com

Practice shows (and there is a general norm): one gallon of water is needed per day for one person (US gallon - 3.7 liters), that is, approximately 4 liters of water. Of this volume, half will be used for drinking, the second half is necessary to maintain hygiene. A number of factors indicate that this amount of water should be increased. If your locality is located in a hot climate zone or there are pregnant women or nursing mothers in the family or survival group, then you will have to stock up on a large amount of water.

So, we accept the general rule of four liters per day per person. The next question is natural: how many days should you prepare a supply of water? This will depend on your preparedness for a possible disaster of varying degrees of complexity. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that you have enough water to last three days for everyone in the house if the water source you usually use fails. Three days is a period sufficient to survive a period of lack of water or its pollution, if this occurs during a natural disaster - earthquakes, tornadoes, snowstorms.

Three days is just a starting point, as even in mild disasters, access to water may not be possible for much longer. On prepper forums and blogs, people have come to a general consensus that in the event of a disaster, it is advisable to have a supply of water on hand that will last at least two weeks. For one person, that's 14 gallons of water (or 56 L). If there are four people in a family, this means that you will need to store 56 gallons (220 L) of water.

You may wish to exceed this two-week minimum - the decision is yours. For the vast majority of people, finding a place in their own home or apartment to store such a volume of water for two weeks is an impossible task. And finding a place where you can store a supply of water for a month is beyond reality.

But even if having space for such a volume is not a problem for you, the financial investment in long-term storage of drinking water may turn out to be prohibitively high. We would recommend starting with storing a two-week supply of drinking water and gradually increasing the amount as you have additional space and money.

Long-term water storage solutions

Well, having realized the seriousness of a possible water supply disaster, you decided to install your own emergency water supply. First of all, you will need a way to store the water - it must be a safe container. It is worth following the general rule - use plastic bottles only for food products. You can find a sufficient number of glass bottles and use them, but only if they were not used for non-food products.

Another option is stainless steel containers, but in such containers it will not be possible to treat water with chlorine, because chlorine will cause corrosion of the steel. Regardless of how you store your water, you should make sure it can be sealed tightly. Otherwise, bacteria and particles will contaminate your drinking water, ruining your efforts. Next, we will indicate several options on how you can save water.

Ways to store a two-week supply of water

Bottled water from the store. The easiest (but also more expensive) way to stock up on the required amount of water is to simply buy water packaged in plastic bottles. This water is guaranteed to be clean, well sealed and supplied to retail chains in food-grade plastic bottles of various sizes. In addition, bottled water is very convenient to carry and store, which will be indispensable when you need to take it out and distribute it. If your house or apartment is small and there is little space for storage, then an excellent solution would be to buy several packs of water and store them under the beds.

Empty plastic water bottles (soda, juice, beer, etc.). If you cannot or do not want to spend money on purchasing packages of store-bought water, then you can always simply refill empty bottles of drinks with regular tap water. First, collect the required quantity of empty bottles and then stock up on drinking water - just remember to wash the container very thoroughly first to prevent contamination of the water.

5-7 gallon (20-25 L) water cans. A couple of such voluminous canisters may already be in your garage if you go out into nature as a tourist. They are made from durable food-grade plastic, which is painted dark blue. Thanks to this color, sunlight access to the water is limited, which prevents algae from growing in the water. These rectangular canisters are easy to stack, making them easy to store even in a cramped garage or small apartment. In addition, the small size makes it easy to transport water supplies if you decide to leave your home and move to another location.

Mineral water

Mineral water passing through underground layers absorbs biologically active components, trace elements and salts. Widely used in spa treatment: for baths, inhalations, rinsing the nasopharynx. Among mineral waters, drinking waters are also distinguished.

The salt content in mineral water exceeds the permissible concentration by 3-5 times, so only a doctor can prescribe treatment with this water.

The rules for storing mineral water do not differ from the requirements for storing bottled water. With intact factory plastic containers, the shelf life is up to 1 year. In a glass bottle up to 1.5-2 years.

The exact expiration date is indicated on the manufacturer's label; always pay attention to it when purchasing a product. When the bottle is already opened, it is advisable to store mineral water in the refrigerator, closing the neck with a cork or rubber stopper, for up to 12 hours. It should also be noted that it is not recommended to place water next to strong-smelling foods, as it can absorb odors.

At home, when a bottle of mineral water has not yet been opened, it should be stored in a horizontal position (so that the cork does not dry out) at a temperature of +5 to +10°C, but not more than +15°C, avoiding direct sunlight.

The main signs of safety of bottled water:

• It's transparent.
• Does not have a musty smell.
• Contains a lot of gas.
• Pleasant to the taste.
• There is no sediment at the bottom of the bottle.

The result of incorrect storage is indicated by the following properties of water:

• Bad taste and smell.
• The water is cloudy.
• Sediment on the bottom associated with salt precipitation.

This mineral water is not suitable for consumption; instead of benefit, it will cause harm to the body.

Methods for storing water supplies for a month or more

Have you read the post-apocalyptic novel “The Road”? There is a scene when the main character saw flashes in the window and realized that an apocalypse was approaching the world. What was the first thing he did? He began to fill his bathtub with water because he was sure that the city water supply would soon be cut off. His goal was to conserve as much water as possible while it was still flowing from the tap. If you completely fill the bathtub, you can store 100 gallons of water, or 370 liters (large bathtubs in the USA), we will be able to stock up on 160 or 210 liters of water.

But will this water be suitable for drinking, and how long will it last without contamination? Remember how many days have passed since you cleaned your bathtub?

Okay, let's say you recently washed it, but you definitely used harsh chemicals - that's why storing water in the bathtub is not very hygienic. Would you like to drink water straight from the bath? Next, the water poured into the bathtub is usually not covered with anything, and over time it will be subject to all sorts of contamination.

WaterBOB device specifically for bathtubs in emergency situations

A special WaterBOB system has been developed just for such force majeure situations. It is a large, durable polyethylene bag that holds up to 370 liters of water (100 gallons). Two holes with covers allow you to connect it to a tap and draw water and then use a pump to collect the required amount of water for use. Using the WaterBOB tank is very simple - place it in the bathtub and turn on the water. And voila! – you are provided with reliable storage of water for drinking and domestic needs for 12 weeks.

This is a good solution for regions where water outages occur frequently, and for those people whose living space is limited. The reservoir is disposable, so you can use water from it when you think you don't need a supply. But you may not have time to fill it with water if necessary if you think that you don’t need to use it at the moment.

Water barrels. If you have enough space in your home to accommodate large items and you want to have a month's supply of water, then you will most likely choose 55 gallon (203 L) water drums. They are made from strong food grade plastic. There are a pair of plugs on the lids of the barrels that are screwed tightly, which protects the water from contamination. The plastic is BPA free and UV resistant. Just two of these “babies” will provide the average family of four people with drinking water for 27 days.

But in such a container you can find several disadvantages. First, if you live in an apartment, there may not be enough space for a large 55-gallon drum. Secondly, it’s a matter of the price of water. In addition to water, you will also need to purchase a pump and a hose specifically for drinking water to fill the barrel. Thirdly, these containers are difficult to move. A fully filled barrel will weigh about 440 pounds (176 kg). You'll likely want to store your water in a more transportable container, since you may need to haul your supply out of the house.

If your goal is to store more than a month's worth of water, consider purchasing one or even more 320-gallon (1,187 L) water storage systems.

How to Store Water in 55-Gallon (Just Over 200 L) Drums (Figure)

There are 55-gallon drums filled with drinking water in the garage.

Barrels of water are placed on a wooden pallet to prevent chemical reactions between the containers and the cement floor.

To fill barrels with water, it is recommended not to use a regular old garden hose; it is better to take a special hose designed for drinking water.

The barrels in the garage are filled with water. Water disinfection companies recommend treating the container with chlorine before storage - this will prevent the growth of algae and bacteria. But other experts say this is not necessary because tap water has already been treated with chlorine.

When the barrels are full, tighten the cap tightly on the canister body. After all, water itself does not deteriorate; the cause of its deterioration is pollution.

You may have very large barrels with a supply of water, but make sure you have smaller canisters as well. This will allow you to take water with you if you have to leave the house.

Rain barrels. They can be used as an addition to your tap water storage system. All you need to do is place a rain barrel under the downspout (if you have a house and a downspout). And then, as soon as it rains, water will flow into the barrel. Rainwater is considered environmentally friendly, and collecting water this way is the cheapest way to create a long-term supply.

The thesis about the purity of rainwater is quite controversial in our time, especially if it is in an open barrel. Therefore, rainwater must be filtered and disinfected before drinking. There are “survivalists” who use rainwater for hygiene, and collect water from the tap for drinking. In the US, some states with frequent droughts require rainwater harvesting permits. For example, Texas provides a tax credit for the purchase of rainwater harvesting equipment.

Water tanks. Compared to rain barrels, cisterns are a significant improvement. At their core, they are giant containers for collecting and storing rainwater. Such tanks can hold from 1,400 (5,180 L) to 12,000 gallons (44,400 L) of water. Those who are seriously confident that the world will end soon can successfully use water collection tanks. You will need to find a place where you can place a huge tank, then develop a pipe system so that rainwater gets into the tank. It is worth keeping in mind that the tanks are not suitable for food products. It is necessary to purify the water before drinking it or use the water from the tank for other purposes first.

How to save water easily

Do you know how much water a resident of Europe or Ukraine uses every day? With a known figure for water consumption in economical mode (as scientists have calculated - about 100 liters), it turns out that developed countries use 2-3 times more water than it would cost. Those. The water consumed per day by one resident of our country is equivalent to 200-300 liters. The shame is that at least half of this amount, or even more, is drained into the sewer. How to preserve this precious resource and prevent its loss? For anyone concerned about their future and willing to live an eco-friendly lifestyle, reducing the amount of water they use can be done effectively and efficiently. How?

1. Plumbing must be maintained in order. Water losses (about 80 liters) occur due to the fact that the tap is leaking a little. Things are even worse with the drain tank - it can provide water loss of up to 700 liters per day. Have it repaired or replaced.
2. Installing a dishwasher helps save not only water, but also time. A dishwasher uses about 13-16 liters of liquid from the water supply, while a hand wash requires about 100-120 liters.
3. Give preference to showering rather than bathing. When using medium water pressure, no more than 15 liters of liquid will be consumed per minute. Taking a shower for five minutes will use no more than 75 liters of water. It seems like a lot, but this figure is half as much as the loss of water that occurs when filling a bathtub.
4. When brushing your teeth, turn off the tap. While you are getting ready, you don’t need water, close the tap. And at the end of this hygienic procedure, you can rinse your mouth with water, not running from the tap, but poured into a glass. This way you can save 10, or even 20 liters. water.
5. For activities such as washing vegetables and fruits, washing, washing, try to open the water not at full power, but use a small pressure, as thick as a pencil. This way you will use water resources as efficiently as possible, since less water will go down the drain.
6. It is not necessary to use running water to wash dishes. You can do this by using a large bowl of water or by closing the drain and filling the sink. This way you will wash the dishes thoroughly and waste less water.
7. To save water, there are now even special faucets. Even special flush tanks that have two buttons for draining instead of one will help save water resources.
8. When washing clothes in the washing machine, load the drum completely, but do not overload it. During washing, up to 50-60 liters can be consumed. water, so is it worth wasting this amount of valuable resource for two T-shirts?

Avoid washing your car daily at home. Car washes do a very good job, and each car uses much less water than a “home” wash procedure. And detergents do not pollute the environment, but flow onto the car wash floor.

There is nothing more precious in the world than the most wonderful, ordinary clean water! Water played a decisive role in evolution. “ The water enjoys you, not knowing what you are?

“It was the aquatic environment that provided the nutrient broth in which life on Earth originated 3.5 billion years ago under special external conditions.
Water is a source of spiritual food and salvation, as for example, in the Gospel Christ says: “ Whoever drinks the water that I give him will never thirst
.”

And the most important thing for life on Earth today, of course, is the problem of clean water. Recently, when assessing the quality of life of people, the state of their health comes first. And we can ensure the health of humanity only through the conservation and consumption of clean fresh water. And each party must fulfill certain requirements when processing and supplying water for consumption by the population.

Yes, water is needed for the Earth to bloom and plants to grow, because if there is no water, there will be no fruits, vegetables, and our green planet will cease to exist altogether.

And we did the research. How does fresh, mineral, holy water affect the growth of various plants. We took onions, wheat, millet. The conclusions are as follows: plant growth is best observed in Holy water, worst in our fresh water, probably in dirty water.

We are a part of this huge world. And we are not indifferent to the fate of the Irgiz River. Water quality is the health of the nation, of every person. My classmates and I helped our beloved river clear itself of garbage many times. By tradition, students from our school periodically work together in the spring and fall on the ecological trail, clearing ravines and river banks of debris.

We planted trees in our city park along the banks of the Irgiz, which allows the river to preserve natural components for the life of living organisms on Earth. We believe that in this way we preserve the path of clean water into the Irgiz River. Our students constantly provide assistance in improving the territory of the St. Nicholas Monastery in the village of Monastyrsky and the banks of the Irgiz, where it is located.

Ways to solve the problem of maintaining clean water

1. As planned, we will clean the river beds and floodplains of accumulated debris, which will not create conditions for the accumulation of manganese in the water.
2. It is necessary that the pages of the media promptly cover problems affecting the state of the main wealth for human life - water in the rivers of our region.
3. Oblige the population living along the river banks to create public movements to preserve and strengthen natural landscapes, which will help keep clean water reaching river systems.
4. We must learn to use fresh water, as the most precious thing a person has on Earth, creating life where there was none.

Every year in December on Awareness Day, humanity needs detailed information about the great secrets that have changed our world today.

Scientists say that while we will not die, we will change. The nature of water turns out to be a great mystery, and to understand and appreciate it is the main task of man.

Water is a wonderful gift of nature

, Alive, fluid and free, Paints the pictures of our life In its three important forms: Now it flows like a stream, now it winds like a river, Now it pours from a glass to the ground.

It freezes like a thin piece of ice, beautifully named snowflake,

Then the steam acquires lightness, It was there - and suddenly it was gone

Bibliography

1. L.P. Astanin, K.N. Blagoslonov. Protection of Nature. Moscow, 1984
2. Great Oxford Encyclopedia Moscow, ROSMEN, 2008.
3. Vanin S.I. Forest phytopathology, 4th ed., 1955; Zhuravlev I.I. Phytopathology, M., 1963, Dictionary - reference book of phytopathologist, ed. P.I. Golovin, 2nd ed., Leningrad, 1967.
4. Geography of the Saratov region - textbook 2006.
5. Materials of the Committee for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management of the Saratov Region
6. Materials of the Meteorological Service of the city of Pugachev, Saratov region.
7. V.A. Markin “ I explore the world
   ” Geography: Moscow, AST, 2002.
8. Scientific and methodological journals: Geography and ecology in the 21st century school No. 3 2008, No. 6 2009.
9. Scientific and methodological journals: Geography at school No. 2 2004, No. 3 2005, No. 4 2009.
10. Provincial newspaper of Pugachev, for 2008-2009.
11. " Saratov Bulletin
    ", No. 11, 1994.
12. Materials of the State Unitary Enterprise " Vodokanal
    " in the city of Pugachev, an enterprise of the State Unitary Enterprise "Saratovoblvodokanal".
13. Internet resources

Water as a resource on Earth is beginning to deplete.

Already, about 500 million people around the world suffer from scarcity or acute shortage of fresh water.
This is every 14th person!
And by 2050, according to experts, this problem will affect 4 billion people, which by that time will mean that the issue of lack of clean drinking water will affect
every second person on Earth!
But each of us, without pointing at the other, can help our planet not suffer from thirst right now. How? With the help of simple things that should become a habit.

It would seem like a simple thing, but it saves about 15 liters of water. Which is wasted down the drain. If you don’t believe it, check it out.

Your personal result for the year:

saving 11,000 liters of water.

The volume of water saved will amount to two Seliger lakes!

It takes 7 liters of water to produce one liter bottle of water. Thus, if you drink on average 1 liter of purchased water every day, you are extracting 8 liters of water per day or 2,920 liters of water per year from the bowels of the planet. In addition, the plastic used in the production of bottles is difficult to recycle. Solution: install good filters at home and in the office and fill “your” water bottle yourself for consumption throughout the day.

Your personal result for the year:

saving water volume in Maly Novodevichy Pond in Moscow.

If every resident of our country does this for a year:

Let's save water in almost four Balkhash lakes!

That is, those with this icon:

Products made from recycled paper require much less water to produce. If your family uses four rolls of paper towels (including toilet paper) a week, choosing towels made from recycled paper will dramatically reduce your water use.

Your personal result for the year:

2,408 liters of stored water

Let's save as much water as falls from Niagara Falls every day.

If you take a shower not with maximum, but with average water pressure, then in 5 minutes you will save not only a significant amount of water, but also the energy used to heat it.

And, by the way, watch the water pressure in the tap when brushing your teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, or hand washing. It should be as thick as a pencil.

Your personal result for the year:

water saving 17,200 liters.

If every resident of our country does this for a year:

Enough water to fill 3,000 giant stadiums.

If you do this in the middle of the day, due to evaporation, 14% of all water used does not reach the roots of the plants. A simple shift in the time of watering the lawn to the evening or early morning by a typical summer resident near Moscow saves 330 liters of water per week.

Your personal result for the year:

water saving 17,160 liters.

If every household in our country did this for a year:

water savings exceeding 4 times the annual precipitation norm in Moscow.

People are smarter than automatic machines: watering an area with a hose aiming exactly at the spot is twice as effective as mindlessly spraying it with an automatic machine. The average family of summer residents uses 95,000 liters per year to water their lawn. This is double the amount of water consumed at home.

Your personal result for the year:

water saving 47,000 liters.

If every dacha farm in our country does this throughout the year:

the volume of water saved will approach the volume of the Pyalovsky reservoir near Moscow.

Huge amounts of water are required to grow grain to feed livestock. No less water is needed to get the finished product in the form of a steak to your table. Replacing just one good steak a week with a vegetarian meal saves 11,000 liters of water.

Your personal result for the year:

water savings of 650,000 liters, which is equivalent to the volume of Lake Torbeevskoye near Moscow.

If every resident of our country does this for a year:

we will save a volume of water equal to the Caspian Sea!

Contrary to popular belief, the normal standard settings of your dishwasher are almost never needed. The same goes for pre-running the rinse program. Don't believe me? Try it! At “lighter” settings, the dishwasher copes with its duties no worse, and saves water by 55%.

And of course, do not run a dishwasher or washing machine that is not fully loaded. Wait until the machine is fully loaded, do not waste water and electricity!

Your personal result for the year:

water saving 10,810 liters.

If every resident of our country does this for a year:

we will save a volume of water that could cover the entire Kamchatka Peninsula with a layer of 30 cm!

These are the little things at the end of the mixers:

They cost from 15 to 50 rubles.

A regular faucet provides a water flow of 15 liters of water per minute. A water erator

, also known as a flow minimizer, reduces water flow by up to 6 liters per minute, while maintaining the same water flow. By equipping only 2 sinks in your home with aerators: in the kitchen and in the bathroom, you will save 3,780 liters of water per year.

Your personal result for the year:

water saving 3,780 liters.

If every resident of our country does this for a year:

We will save a volume of water equal to the two-week water consumption level in the city of Moscow.

We're probably the only ones with leaking taps and toilets. A leaky faucet can cause you to lose about 75 liters of water per day, while a faulty toilet flush can cause you to lose up to 750 liters in the same period of time.

If every home in our country has plumbing that works properly throughout the year:

we will save the whole Lake Ladoga!

All data for this article is taken from Wikipedia

and creatively redesigned.

Slide 2

2013 has been declared the year of environmental protection!

• Slide 3

  WHAT DO I WANT TO KNOW?

  Are there environmental problems on Earth?

  Can I contribute to environmental conservation?

  Slide 4

  ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

• Can the planet get sick? It turns out it can. This is exactly what happened to the earth due to the fault of man. ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS have arisen on the planet, the solution of which determines the fate of all living things.

There are a lot of such problems.

• We will discuss one of them!!!

And this is only from 1 faulty tap!!!

Slide 8

LET'S CONDUCT AN EXPERIMENT

How many liters of water can you save if you turn off the tap while brushing your teeth?

3 liters of water are filled into a bucket in 18 seconds. This means that 10 liters of water flow out in 1 minute.

Conclusion: if we brush our teeth for 5 minutes, we lose 50 liters of clean water!

In 1 day -100 liters, if we brush our teeth 2 times!

Slide 9

LEGEND

A stonecutter drilled a hole in a steep rock, from which flowed a thin stream of life-giving moisture. On the rock he carved the words that this rock was sacred and that the hole in it should not be widened. And yet, centuries later, there was a man who, for the sake of momentary gain, widened the hole. The water began to flow stronger and noisier. The man was declared a hero. But the glory was short-lived. Soon the spring dried up. There was nowhere to get water, people began to leave their homes. The village ceased to exist - “dried up”.

Slide 10

Filtration solutions in alternative water supplies

It is not enough to simply store a supply of water; you also need to find ways to filter and purify the water. After all, it may happen that you need to collect water from rivers, lakes, streams to replenish your water reserves. Prepper website Willow Haven recommends three options to obtain clean drinking water: filtration, chemical treatment and boiling.

• Water filter. With a good filtration system, you can produce approximately 1 liter of clean water in just a minute. But the filter cannot be relied on as the only and main source of clean drinking water. Filtration is just an additional means.
• Cleansing tablets. Keep some iodine or sodium chlorite tablets on hand to purify your water.
• Fuel and stove for boiling water. Find and store a small stove and fuel for it in the bag with which you plan to flee the cataclysm. You can always boil water and purify it for drinking.

General questions about water storage

Does stored water need to be changed every year?

People ask this question most often, and the equally common answer is yes, it is necessary to update the water at least once a year. If you study the issue of water storage, you will find that this is not necessarily true. It is important to realize that water has no expiration date. If stored correctly, the water does not spoil. Water spoils when contaminants get into it. It's worth taking the right precautions when you seal your water and store it, making sure that no bacteria or dirt gets in, and the water will theoretically remain unchanged indefinitely.

People share stories on blogs about how they drank water that they had stored for five years without any ill effects. Therefore, if proper precautions are taken, the water does not need to be changed every year. If you are concerned and concerned about possible contamination, then renew your entire supply annually.

Is it necessary to treat water supplies with chlorine before storing?

Some experts recommend treating water with chlorine before closing the storage container. However, if using municipal water supply, this is not necessary. The water in the reservoir has already been treated with chlorine. Close the bottles or canisters carefully and you won't have to worry about bacteria and algae growth. If you open your water and are wondering if the water is contaminated, don't hesitate to add chlorine. The correct dose is 1/8 teaspoon of chlorine for one gallon of water. There are special water purification products - buy one of them so you don't have to worry about anything.

Should water be boiled before drinking?

If you think that the water is contaminated and there is reason to suspect, then boil it. Otherwise, there is no need to boil - do not waste fuel.

Why did the water acquire a strange taste? Is she infected?

Water that has been stored in a closed container for a long time often does not taste very good because it lacks oxygen. If you want to get rid of the taste of water, rinse your cup with water several times before drinking.

Is it possible to store water on a cement floor?

If your water will be stored in a large barrel, you will most likely be advised not to store the water on the cement floor of the garage, but to place the barrel on a wooden pallet. The reason is that the chemicals in the cement can react with the plastic of the barrel and, as a result, contaminate the water. However, this is probably an invention of the old “preppers”. There are no scientific studies to support this claim. Some people are convinced that storing water on a cement floor will only be a problem when the cement gets hot. You can use a mat or cardboard from boxes instead of a wooden pallet.

Can a home pool be used for emergency water supply?

If you're lucky enough to have a medium-sized pool at home, you have approximately 20,000 gallons (74,000 L) of water at your disposal to use in case of an emergency. Yes, you can drink it. In the pool you chlorinate the water, there is a pump or filter, and therefore it is clean and not contaminated with algae or bacteria.

We advise you not to be afraid to drink chlorinated pool water. Recommendations for pool chlorine are 2 parts per million. However, if the water contains chlorine below 4 parts per million, then it is safe for consumption.

But it is still problematic to use a pool for long-term water storage. The fact is that in the event of a disaster, not only water, but also electricity will be turned off. If the power grid does not work for more than a week, the water will become contaminated. The chlorine level will decrease and you will have to add it to the pool. If chlorine is not at hand, then after a while algae and bacteria will multiply in the water. Next, a pump and filter without electricity will not be able to purify water. This means that in just a week, the clean, drinkable water in the pool will deteriorate. Have a few jerry cans on hand to fill with pool water if the power goes out. Place as many of these containers in your garage as possible. To be on the safe side, boil and treat pool water before drinking.

Can I use a seawater pool?

Everything is a little more complicated here. Information on the topic is contradictory. Some argue that the salt level in seawater pools is not that high and that the water is safe to drink. Others, on the contrary, say that there is too much salt in such water. Salt in survival conditions will harm your health, so it is better not to drink water from the sea pool. Use your pool only for hygienic purposes. But if you want to drink from it, use a solar desalination device.

Cover: shutterstock.com

Article source: How to Store Water for Long-Term Emergencies

Terms and conditions for storing drinking water in plastic containers

These days, the number of plastic water bottles in stores is steadily increasing. Bottled water can be ordered for home delivery. Hypermarkets willingly sell such water, since it has a fairly long shelf life.

Under normal conditions, water quickly loses its properties when exposed to sunlight and heat, and due to bacteria trapped in it, an unpleasant odor and taste appears. But why does water last so long in supermarkets? The fact is that manufacturers preserve this water.

There are three methods of preservation:

• ozonation;
• carbonation;
• adding an antibiotic.

The first two methods are harmless, but such liquid is stored only until the bottle is opened, that is, as soon as you unpack the container, you need to drink the water from it over the next few days.

Drinking water preserved using the third method is stored for a long time, but antibiotics can cause serious harm to your health and immune system.

Bottled water should be stored in a dark place at a temperature of +15...+30 °C. It is better to purchase one that was recently bottled in your area - it contains more useful substances.

The water storage container must be made of food grade plastic. If it has a PET symbol, it is made of polyethylene terephthalate, which does not react with liquids and is non-toxic. Under no circumstances should you store water in a bottle marked PVC - this means that it is made of toxic material. In addition, liquid stored in melamine containers is dangerous.

If you do not find any marks on the bottle, then you can check which class the material belongs to quite simply. Press your fingernail into the container. On a dangerous one you will see a whitish mark, on a PET bottle you will not notice any changes. Tap the bottle, if the sound is dull, then the container is made of melamine.

The shelf life of water preserved in a plastic bottle is from 6 months to a year. Moreover, after opening, drinking liquid can be stored for about 10 days.

In addition to its expiration date, drinking water also has a so-called “usefulness” period, after which it loses most of its beneficial properties. Therefore, you need to purchase the freshest water possible.

You may also be interested in: Drinking water safety: everything you wanted to know