MAY – Water
Purchase: 55, 15, 5 gallon water barrels/containers, Siphon, Bunge wrench and a
Water purification system.
Rotate: existing stored water supply
Organize: Secure water heater from falling
Learn: Where to turn off water valves
Notes on Water
An adult needs at least 1 gallon of water a day. We have been asked to store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for 2 weeks (that means 14 gallons of water for each member of your family). Water will be the most used commodity we store and it may be difficult to do. We need to evaluate different ways of storing, collecting and purifying water.
Storage: Store water in sturdy, leak-proof, break-resistant containers. Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for juices and soda. Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight. You should also keep containers on pieces of wood (not on concrete and dirt).
Collecting: If water comes from a good, pretreated source, then no additional purification is needed; otherwise pre-treat water before use.
Purifying: You must have the ability to purify water after your initial supply has been exhausted. The best ways to purify are: chlorine powder, filter purifiers and boiling (10-20 minutes). Chorine bleach and iodine can work but have side effects. When water is flat, flavoring can help make water better tasting. (Fruit drink mixes). The Church Distribution Center now has water filtration bottles at a reasonable price. The 28oz Water Filtration flip top bottle is being used by missionaries traveling to foreign countries where safe drinking water is at a premium. The bottle produces up to 100 gallons of great-tasting water; and is equal to 757 half liters of bottled water! For the 75% of the water consumed away from home, this is an ideal portable product! Another great product called Pur, can actually remove dirt and sediment from water and then purifies it too. Just stir a Pur packet in a container of water and watch the sediment precipitate out while it purifies. Another method I learned came while I was reading in the April 2010 National Geographic. It spoke of the SODIS method of obtaining drinking water. I checked the website and amazingly, all you need is only a clear plastic water bottle and sunshine to have drinkable water (great emergency option). See Articles on this web blog for more details on all of these products/methods.
