Tips On Planning And Making Emergency Water Supplies

It's always best to prepare backup water supplies before an emergency strikes. However, you can still make last-minute preparations with your current supplies to ensure that your household has potable water until running water returns. Here are some ways to create drinkable water at home for emergencies.

Why You Need to Create Emergency Water Supplies

Keeping a well-maintained backup water supply is a matter of survival during emergencies, pandemics, natural disasters, and outbreaks. When worse comes to worst, potable water can help humans survive for weeks or even months without food. We need water daily, so it’s essential to ensure your stored water is safe to drink.

Stock Up on Commercially Bottled Mineral Water

The safest way to store emergency water supplies is to purchase large gallons of bottled mineral water. Store these bottles away from direct sunlight and keep them in a cool and dry place. Remember that store-bought bottled water has expiry dates, so it’s good practice to replenish the stocks every six months or before they expire.

Keep Your Emergency Supply in Clean Containers

Store your water supplies in clean and BPA-free containers for longevity. The last thing you want during an emergency is to discover that the water you saved is contaminated and unusable even for taking baths.

You can use makeshift containers at home but avoid using plastic containers that were previously used for chemical substances. You can also invest in large tanks and food-grade barrels for sterile emergency water supplies.

Use Your Bathtub as a Makeshift Water Reservoir

Another method to store emergency water is to fill your tub while you still have running water. Once the tub has water to the brim, you can protect it with a shower curtain or plastic sheets. You also must ensure that the drain plug is not leaking to avoid water wastage and your emergency supply running out.

If you don't have a bathtub, an alternative is a kid's inflatable pool. Following the same steps, fill the makeshift reservoir with running water and protect it with a plastic layer. Ensure that it's in a safe location away from your kids and pets at home to avoid drowning hazards.

Invest in Rainwater Collection Systems

Rainwater collection systems are a reliable source of emergency drinking water. You can choose from a wide selection of rainwater collecting systems. However, you'll have to consider your lot area and whether your residence has any regulations regarding installing rainwater collection systems.

These systems usually come in 3000-litre water tanks or even bigger that take up a significant amount of space. You can create a rainwater cistern with a clean plastic tank or food-grade tanks available in the market.

To avoid further inconvenience, ensure that you have emergency water supplies at home that are accessible to everyone in times of dire need. Whether you plan to store potable water in 3000-litre water tanks or BPA-free containers, make it a habit to replace the water supply so that the water remains safe to consume.