Master Emergency Water Storage: Essential Tips for Preparedness

In any emergency scenario, having access to fresh drinking water is paramount. It’s essential to have both stationary and portable water storage solutions, keeping in mind that water weighs approximately 8 pounds per gallon. This dual approach ensures you’re prepared for both shelter-in-place situations and emergencies that require quick evacuation.

Experts, including those from FEMA, advise storing at least 14 gallons of water per person. This amount is sufficient for one gallon per day over a two-week period, covering basic needs like drinking and light sanitation. For a family of four, this translates to about 56 gallons. However, this is a baseline recommendation; additional water is necessary for cooking, bathing, and other uses.

Don’t forget to account for any pets when calculating your water storage needs. It’s wise to aim for storing closer to two gallons per person per day to ensure you have enough for all circumstances.

While water itself does not expire, it can become contaminated. “Water can have a stale taste, but that taste improved if you run it through a filter such as the Alexapure Pro.” Gravity filters are also effective for purifying water collected from rain barrels or nearby water sources.

When stored under optimal conditions—clean, dark, cool, and away from concrete or harsh fumes—water can last indefinitely. This means that your garage might not be the best storage location. Large barrels, like 55-gallon drums, are convenient for filling, but rotating water is simpler with smaller, 5-7 gallon containers.

For safe storage, use UV-resistant, food-grade plastic containers or metalized bags. Blue barrels are commonly used because they limit light exposure and biological growth, indicating safe storage for human consumption. “The safest containers to hold water in are polyethylene-based plastics, or plastics #1, #2, and #4 that are BPA free.”

Avoid using milk jugs, as they cannot be thoroughly cleaned and degrade over time. Always store water off the ground, using wood or cardboard as a buffer between containers and concrete floors. Store containers upright unless specifically designed for side storage, and avoid stacking unless the containers are built for it.

Relying on a single water barrel isn’t practical for all situations. In case of evacuation, transporting a large barrel is impossible, and damage to a single container could leave you without a vital resource. Remember, “Two is one, and one is none.”

Diversify your water storage with containers of varying sizes to prepare for different scenarios, such as grab-and-go situations or extended shelter-in-place events. Use siphons or hand transfer pumps to access water from large barrels easily.

If you choose to invest in barrels, don’t forget the necessary accessories like a bung wrench, replacement bung, siphon hose, and water purifiers to maintain your water supply effectively.

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