Water: Absolutely Essential…Do It Right

Water is absolutely essential to life and the need for storing and for storing safely can not be over emphasized. Today part 2 of our discussion about water.

I recently watched a national morning television show where the topic was emergency preparations. The “expert” gave some really awful advice about water storage. Some straight talk is in order.

• Do not drink sodas or alcoholic beverages in an emergency. They will greatly increase thirst.
• Do not store water containers directly on a concrete floor.The chemicals in the concrete can leach into plastic containers and contaminate your water. Place boards or two layers of carpet on the concrete first. The best bet is to store water on shelves and not on the floor at all.
  
• Water should be stored in containers that are filled completely to the top.
• Water should be stored in a cool, dark location.
• Water should never be stored near chemicals, pesticides, perfumed items, or products that may emit toxic gases.If you are storing water in the garage this means you should store it away from the car and any chemicals or in a closed cabinet.
  
• NEVER store water in milk containers. They are too porous, difficult to sanitize, and are easily contaminated. These containers are designed to begin biodegrading as soon as they are produced and they will leak, guaranteed.
• Label all containers with the words “drinking water,” and with the date you stored it.If you are storing in bleach containers or other containers that are not appropriate for drinking label those Don Not Drink: for sanitation and washing only. You may know which are which but would your children if they were home alone or would a visitor or someone who had evacuated to your home.
  
• Stored water should be rotated every year. The best advice is to choose a date you will rotate your water every year. A good time would be a special occasion that falls during the summer months — birthday, anniversary, the 4 th of July. The old water can then be used to water outdoor gardens and trees.
• Train your family in the safe and responsible use of stored water.Teach them to practice conserving now and when an emergency presents itself they will not have to vary there habits as much.
  
• Do not use bottled water that has been exposed to flood waters.Everything that has been exposed to flood water MUST be disinfected before use. Canned goods may be used as the water will not leach through metal. Water, however and any chemicals can leach through plastic, thus the water in them should not be consumed. It may be used, after sterilizing the outside for flushing and cleaning after adding bleach.

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