How To Store Water For Any Lockdown Scenario

Spending some time gathering and storing water becomes a necessary effort during a lockdown scenario since water is needed both for consumption and food preparation.

However, in the current crisis, we are experiencing, water-storing is a must as you will need adequate quantities for your hygiene and cleaning/disinfecting needs.

When the tap runs dry, you need to have a backup plan that would provide you with a good quantity of water without leaving the safety of your home. While most people are storing a lot of water filters, water purifiers, and various water sanitizers (such as bleach and chlorine), few actually spend time on water saving and storing.

You will need to store water and lots of it if you plan for a long-term survival scenario. Even if storing water is not complicated, you need to have the proper solutions and storage space to cover all your needs.

Tap water or bottled water?

This is the number one concern right now when it comes to storing water. A lot of Americans are asking which one is best, most cost-efficient, and healthy.  With all the misinformation online and unreliable sources, finding the proper answer to this question can be difficult.

A study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council, of 1,000 bottles of drinking water from 103 brands, one in four brands “violated strict applicable state (California) limits for bottled water in at least one sample, most commonly for arsenic or certain cancer-causing manmade…organic compound.”

This Device Easily Turns Air Into Water!

In the US, tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), while bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The problem is that the current laws and imposed standards for the two types of water sources are quite different.

A few examples of governing standards:

• Tap water must (the law imposes it) be filtered and disinfected. On the other hand, there are no federal filtration or disinfection requirements for the bottled water you buy at the store.
• It is specified that tap water is tested 100 or more times a month. When it comes to bottled water, the testing requirement is just once a week
• Almost all bottled water can be, and it is tested in-house (by company-owned facilities). Tap water must be tested at government-certified labs
• The test reports of bottled water are not required to be reported to the general public. The test reports of tap water must be reported to the government

Besides the above-mentioned differences, there’s also the plastic dilemma that bugs a lot of people. If they store water in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers, they will leach Bisphenol A (BPA), which is a hormone disrupter; into the water, and it can cause health issues in time. To be on the safe side, always store your water in containers that are BPA-free.

Water storage solutions:

For urban preppers, physical space limitation is the biggest problem when it comes to storing water, and they have to look at various solutions to cover their water needs. The following solutions are useful for every prepper, regardless of the environment he or she may live in.

Store-bought water

Although the quality of store-bought water is sometimes questionable, this remains the favorite water storage solution for many. It helps a lot of people that have limited space since some bottles can be easily stacked to save said storage space.

The main problem here remains the cost, and if you don’t shop smart, you will deplete your budget without even realizing it. My advice is to always buy on sale and from big-box chain stores to save money. Even more, you have to check if the plastic bottles are BPA-free if you plan for long-term storage. And last but not least, always rotate your stockpiled water every 8 to 12 months.

Multi-gallon jugs

The multi-gallon water jugs are a cheaper alternative when it comes to bottled water, but the downside of these jugs is that they do not stack properly. Even more, most jugs are made from clear plastic, and some preppers have complained that algae growth will become a problem during extended periods of time.

Bathtub containers

When the WaterBOB first launched, it was a great success amongst preppers and survivalists and to be honest, it is still an item hard to find these days. This is a bathtub-sized food-grade plastic container that fills your entire tub and allows you to store up to 100 gallons of tap water.

As a last-minute water storage solution, this is the best solution I can think of. However, if you lack the money to buy a few of these items, you can always improvise and use heavy-duty trash bags. The bags will not hold as much water, but at least you will be able to store enough water until your tap runs dry.

Water barrels

This is another invention (with the added manual pump) that is meant to help preppers with their water storage needs, and these 55-gallon plastic bags have become very popular. They are BPA-free and UV-resistant since they are made from opaque plastic.

Being very sturdy, a lot of people are buying and storing them in their suburban homes. According to various estimation, two of these barrels will provide a month of water for a family of four. The problem with these barrels is that they are heavy and are not portable once filled with water (compared to most bottled water you buy at the store).

To save money, buy used barrels that weren’t exploited for storing chemicals and clean them properly before filling them with water. You can add a water pump to them, and it will cost you much less than the commercial ones.

Rain barrels

The homesteader is privileged when it comes to storing water as they often have a well or a nearby source of potable water that can be used in times of need. Having rain barrels on your property to collect rainwater (although it is illegal in some states) will provide a great advantage. Besides being an economical way of storing water, you can also use that water for cleaning and other chores that do not require the water to be purified.

Even so, there are some hazardous issues that need to be addressed, and the way you collect water should be your main concern. The rainwater rinsing off of roofs made of asphalt, concrete, wood, and steel may contain a high concentration of copper, lead and other dangerous metals. Asphalt shingles may also contain small amounts of Benzo[a]pyrene, a carcinogenic compound.

We all know that rainwater can be purified and used for human consumption, but if you want to be 100% safe, use the rainwater for crops and cleaning purposes only. Even more, before you install a rainwater catching system, make sure nobody knows about your business, or you may face legal problems down the road.

Water cisterns

A serious homesteader will have a large cistern tank buried on their property with enough water to last for years. These are the best solution if you have the space and budget for it, and a water cistern can hold around 10,000 gallons of water that should last you for at least three years.

This is a long-term investment, and it will require maintenance and proper planning. If you go with such an option, you have to keep in mind that most of these cisterns are not food-grade friendly, and the water needs to be filtered in order to drink it. However, if you manage to cover the costs and the logistics issues, you will not have to worry about running out of water.

Some useful tips for storing and acquiring water

Contrary to popular belief, water doesn’t have an expiration date. However, you still have to make sure your stored water is drinkable when the time comes. This precious liquid will never go bad if you store it properly and keep it safe from contaminants. The main problem with storing water is that chemicals, algae, and bacteria can ruin your stockpile in a matter of days.

You need to store water in sealed in air-tight, opaque containers. You shouldn’t open the containers unless you plan to use the water. It should be stored in a cool place, a place where temperatures don’t fluctuate.

If you rely on tap water to supplement your stockpile, there is no need to treat it with iodine or chlorine. In theory, tap water should be already treated, and there’s no need to add more chemicals to it. However, for those that need absolute peace of mind, you can add 1/8 teaspoon of chlorine per gallon of water before you seal the containers.

If you store water for long-term survival, in time, it will lack oxygen, and it will develop an overall flat taste. To fix this issue, make sure you stir it up a little bit before you drink it (this will aerate the water). Even more, if you think that your water was contaminated, you can boil it or use a UV water purifier to make it safer for consumption.

Stored water is all around you

When things start to fall apart, and your water storage gets depleted, you can always rely on emergency water, you can find all around you. You need a little bit of imagination and persistence to figure out where water is stored inside your home.

Before ending this article, I wanted to provide you with some alternatives to get a few gallons of water from hidden sources inside your home. This may be your last resort in certain cases, and it’s useful for having this knowledge during a water crisis.

Your toilet tank

The top tank of your toilet holds a couple of gallons of tap water, and it should be safe to drink. That water just waits to be used, and if nobody uses the toilet, it will still be there when you needed.

A water heater

Some households have water heaters that can hold up to 80 gallons of fresh water, and your water heater (depending on the model) can become a precious source of drinking water in case needed. Almost all water heaters have a drain valve that can be opened to empty their content. In case needed, you can ration and use that water during an emergency.

Water pipes

Your water pipes, although not the best sources, may still contain a significant quantity of water that can be used during an emergency. While most pipes will be drained when the water pressure drops, there are still some that can hold water. In places such as the attic, water will collect in low spots, and you can harvest it by disconnecting the pipes. I have to mention that this is worth doing only if you have the proper knowledge to disconnect the pipes and reconnect them without causing damage.

Your pool

A pool is a required “utility” for most Americans when they’re buying a home regardless if it’s an above-ground one of the classical family pool. A decent-sized pool contains a good amount of water that can be used for various purposes. When isolated at home, make sure you collect the water from your pool if a water shortage is foreseen in the near future. If you don’t do so, all the chlorine content from your water will burn away in the sun, and your pool will be infested by algae and bacteria. Not to mention that all sorts of contaminants can fall into the pool, and it will make filtration and purification a painful job.

Freezer

The average freezer you can find in most American households can provide a good quantity of water. However, you need to find the best way to defrost your freezer and capture the melting ice, wasting as little as possible. Once you manage to do so, you will have enough water to quench your thirst for a few days.

Canned goods

Most vegetables are packed in water to keep them fresh, and all canned goods can provide you with a decent quantity of water/liquid that can be used for human consumption.

Note: Live the fish tank be!

Yeah, some survivalists suggest that a 20-gallon fish tank will provide a single adult with enough water to survive for three weeks. They recommend filtering and purifying the water and drink it based on your needs. Even more, they also suggest eating the fish since they are a good source of omega-3 oil.

This should be your last resort, and if you end up doing this, you’ve already done something wrong along your survival journey. In isolation, a fish tank will provide you with a sense of tranquility and a much-needed relaxation that will improve your morale. Keep in mind that you also need to stay sane!

Concluding

Water is needed in any type of emergency scenario, and you simply can’t survive without it. Putting some effort now, when the time still allows it, to figure out how to store water, how much and what to do in case you run out of it, will save you a lot of trouble when down the road. Storing water is not a difficult task nor an expensive one (compared to food storage), and if you plan for proper water storage solutions, you can keep your loved ones alive for weeks, months, and even years.