Storing Water

First you should know that the water in water pipes and toilet tanks (NOT THE BOWLS) is safe to drink if you closed the valve on the main water line before the flood or loss of the water system. Now, here is how you can use this water safely. To use the water still in pipes, turn on the faucet located in the highest point in the house usually an upstairs bathroom. This lets air into the system. Then draw water from the lowest faucet in house. Your water heater or water pressure tank could supply 30 to 60 gallons of safe water in an emergency. Before using water from the water heater, switch off the gas or electricity that heats the water. You could cause an explosion or burn out the heating elements of your water heater if you leave the heating part on while the heater is empty of water. After you turn off the gas or electricity, open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Do not turn the water heater on again until the water system is back to normal service. Be sure to shut off the main water valve to protect the clean water already in your system. If possible close the valves on the water lines leaving the house. If you have ice cubes in your freezer, you can thaw them for water. Always purify your water unless you are absolutely certain your home water supply is not contaminated by flood or sewage backup. Purify all water before using it for drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth or dish washing. If the water contains sediment or floating material strain it through a cloth before treating it. There are a couple ways to purify water. You can boil it or chemically treat it. To treat it by boiling, bring the water to a rolling boil for 10 minutes to kill any disease causing bacteria in the water. Then, add a pinch of salt to each quart of boiled water to improve the taste. To chemically treat the water, use Chlorine Bleach such as Clorox or Purex. Household bleach is a good disinfectant for water, but you need to check the label to be sure that the active ingredient is sodium hypo chlorite at 5.25%. Do not use bleach, which contains detergents. Only treat the water chemically if you cannot boil it. Use 8 drops of chlorine bleach to one gallon of water. Double this dose if the water is cloudy. Mix bleach thoroughly into the water. Let it stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slightly chlorine odor. Household iodine from the medicine chest or first aid kit will purify water. The iodine should be 2% United States Pharmacopoeia (U.S.P.) strength. Add 20 drops per gallon of clear water, and 40 drops per gallon of cloudy water. Seal the container and let stand for 30 minutes. The water supply will be safe for an indefinite period. Water Purification Tablets will also purify water. Follow manufacturer’s directions. Water purification tablets are available at drug stores and camping supply departments of your local stores. You can store water ahead of time, which is recommended. You can buy jugs of water or use sterilized milk jugs with the added bleach. You will need 1 gallon of water per day, per person.

• You can use the water in your pipes and hot water heater.
• You can thaw ice cubes from your freezer for water.
• Always purify water before drinking it.
• You can chemically treat water with chlorine bleach.