A Comprehensive Guide to Emergency Water Storage

Humans can only go a few hours without water before symptoms of dehydration set in. In an SHTF scenario, access to clean, drinkable water will be a top priority. 

We're used to abundant clean drinking water each time we turn on the faucet. But in an emergency, the municipal water system might be damaged. Natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes can quickly pollute drinking sources. Nuclear and chemical warfare both contaminate the water. 

Source:  Eugene Chystiakov on Unsplash

To be fully prepared for a CBRN threat, you need to store at least one gallon of water per person per day in long term storage. We'll go into more detail. 

Don't forget - true preparation for CBRN disasters include a nuclear preparation kit. MIRA Safety provides military-grade protection to civilians - buy here. 

Why Emergency Water Supply is Essential 

Water supply can be affected by short term and long term disasters. Local crises like damaged pipes or a chemical spill can pollute the local water supply - and this can happen anywhere. Flint, Michigan is a good example. Between 2014 and 2015, more than 99,000 residents of Flint were exposed to lead. They didn't know that the tap water had been pumped through corroded pipes. This leaked lead into the water supply, which is a known toxin. 

Similarly, the train crash in East Palestine, OH showed just how close we can come to poisonous chemicals being dumped into the ground and corrupting the groundwater. 

Those events show that a CBRN threat can happen anywhere - even in small town America. Widespread events like a conventional or nuclear attack would cause even longer-lasting damage.  

If you want to be prepared, not scared, invest in a military-grade CBRN survival kit from MIRA Safety for each member of your family. 

Source: MIRA Safety

Storing water for emergencies is another key way to prepare. Lack of water has immediate physical effects, like fatigue, headache, irritability, and GI distress. 

It's not just drinking water, either. If there isn't enough water to maintain sewage systems, then contamination can quickly spread. Cholera, E. coli, and norovirus all spread rapidly through corrupted water sources.

There's a good reason why clean water is considered the most important resource for civilization - the U.N. estimates that 3.5 million people die every year from lack of clean water and good hygiene. It's literally the foundation for human life. 

Determining Your Water Storage Needs

So how do you create a water storage system that will provide for your family in a short-term or long-term disaster? 

The first goal is to figure out how much water you need per day. 

The recommended 1 gallon water every day per person. So if you live with two other people, start from the assumption that you'll need three gallons per day, multiplied by how many days you want to be prepared for. 

The Red Cross recommends every household be prepared for at least a 3-day emergency at all times. You never know if a water main break or a freak snowstorm will leave you stuck. We think 3 days is a good starting point, but you want to be prepared for more than that. In most cases, we recommend going with a 55 gallon water storage tank.

After all, a CBRN threat would do permanent damage to infrastructure and resources. It's unlikely that the water source would be cleaned up within 3 days. Having more doesn't hurt!

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You should also consider:

• Storing water for pets
• Extra water in dry or arid climates
• Planning more water for extra exertion 

Don't forget to equip your emergency kit with Nerve Agent Detection Strips - quickly ID poisonous sources inside your drinking water. Buy now.

Types of Water to Store for Emergencies 

Your long term water storage can take different forms. It's okay to have multiple sources stored. 

Storing tap water vs bottled water - is there a difference? Surprisingly, many researchers believe that tap water is most likely safer than bottled water. Of course, if the water supply is contaminated in some way this would change. When it comes to emergency preparedness, you can store either tap or bottled water safely. 

Treated vs untreated water. You can treat water with 5-7 drops of unscented chlorine bleach before storing it to keep bacteria from growing in it. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes before drinking treated water. 

In an area with safe tap water, you can safely store untreated water too. 

Alternative sources: You can use water gathered from rainfall and stored in an emergency water tank for "gray water" usage like flushing toilets or for pets to drink. Keep in mind it might not be sufficiently pure for drinking water. You can get water supply tanks of different sizes for prolonged use.

Pool water can be used for bathing in a pinch. We wouldn't recommend drinking it. Filtering and then boiling pool water will kill bacteria and viruses, but it won't do anything about chemicals. There's also the risk of mold growing at the bottom of the tank.

Best Water Storage Containers 

You can have a lot of water stored, but if it's not in food grade storage containers, it won't do you much good. 

There are multiple options for safely storing your emergency drinking water. Water weighs a lot and can be awkward to move around, so we'll cover some creative ways to make sure you have enough stored. 

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Small Containers

Many people begin to store drinking water in small containers that are easy to keep in their garage, basement, or pantry. 

Any water container that is already graded to hold drinkable liquid can be repurposed into an emergency water container. This includes: 

• Water jugs 
• Juice bottles 
• Clean and disinfected milk jugs
• Glass bottles 
• PET bottles - i.e. soda bottles 

Make sure you thoroughly wash, disinfect, and dry bottles and jugs that you're repurposing for water storage. You don't want residue providing a breeding ground for bacteria. 

Small storage containers have the benefit of being lightweight and portable, which is useful if your living situation doesn't have a lot of water storage space but you still want to prepare. You can add a drinking water hose to the gallon tanks to make it easier to consume.

Medium Containers

5 gallon water jugs are a popular solution for ensuring enough water in an emergency. 

You're most likely familiar with these jugs as water cooler refills. Each plastic container weighs about 42 pounds when full, making it reasonably portable for the average able adult. 

Stackable water bricks are another creative solution. These units are easy to store and can be stacked up to 4 feet high. The size of each brick varies. When stacked together, they can provide the same amount of storage as a 160 gallon water barrel.  

It's fairly easy to store water containers like these at home. 

Source: WaterBrick International

Large Containers 

Large storage solutions for home water stockpiles include underground cisterns, 55 gallon drums, and water storage tanks. These are best suited to setups that have a lot of space dedicated to water storage.

If you're building a bug-out house or off-grid living situation, consider including large water storage solutions like these. 

Where to Store Water 

Emergency survival drinking water should be kept away from direct sunlight and heat. These can warp the plastic and cause leaks. It can also encourage bacteria growth. 

Most people keep their long term water storage containers in a basement or garage. This meets the qualifications of being a cool dark place. 

Don't forget to elevate the water containers if you can. This keeps the storage containers clean and makes it easier to switch it out every six months. It also discourages rodents from trying to chew through your water storage. 

Pro tip - in a pinch, your hot water heater usually holds between 30-60 gallons of clean water. 

How to Treat and Purify Your Water Supply 

It's important to know how to purify your water if there's a worry of contamination. We'll cover the three main treatment methods - boiling, chemical treatment, and filtration.

Boiling Water for Purification

Heating water to a full, rolling boil and boiling for one full minute will safely kill bacteria and viruses. If you're at an altitude above 5,000 feet, boil it for three full minutes. 

Make sure to let the water fully cool before drinking it or storing it. Handle boiling water very carefully to reduce the risk of burns. 

Note that this will not remove chemical contamination. Check out our article here on protecting yourself from exposure to chemical agents. 

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Chemical Treatment

As we already discussed, adding around 6 drops of unscented chlorine bleach per gallon of water is an effective water treatment. Be sure to let the water sit for at least 30 minutes after treatment before drinking it. 

Iodine is also a popular water treatment. One tablet per quart of water is usually sufficient. As with bleach, make sure to let the water sit for 30 minutes before drinking. 

Water Filters 

Don't rely on an everyday kitchen filter. You'll want a gravity filter or mechanical filter to remove the maximum number of impurities. 

Rotating Your Emergency Water Storage 

Stored water should be discarded and replaced with fresh water every six months. This is called rotating your water supply.

Even if you've treated your water supply, there is still a risk of bacteria or algae growing in it. This is why it's important to replace it. 

When you set up your water storage system, make sure to label each container with the date that you filled it and what chemicals you treated it with (if any). Stick-on labels with permanent markers are a simple and inexpensive method. You can simply place a new sticker label on top of the old one when it's time to relabel. 

When you check your emergency supplies - which you should do every six months - make sure you check your water containers for leaks, pests, or damage. Sometimes rodents can try to chew through plastic, so make sure to keep pest repellant of some kind near your storage area.

Not sure how to set up an emergency stockpile? Check out our complete guide here.

Emergency Water Storage Mistakes to Avoid 

There are a few things you should NOT do when storing emergency water. 

Don't make the mistake of storing water in any old container lying around. Food-grade plastic exists for a reason. Glass and stainless steel are also safe for storing food and water, but glass is usually too heavy for water storage. 

Never use containers that have held toxic ingredients, as small molecules of toxic molecules can remain even after washing. Many 5-gallon buckets that you may have lying around in the garage probably held toxic materials like grass seed or ice melt at some point. Don't repurpose these for your water storage!

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The second safety rule for storing water is to make sure that your containers are sealed properly. Dust, pests, bacteria, and viruses can all make their way into improperly sealed containers. That's why it's a good idea to buy containers specifically designed for hygienic water storage. 

Innovative Water Storage Solutions 

Water cisterns are an increasingly popular solution for emergency water storage. These are coated with special UV-resistant covering to keep the water cool and unpolluted. A 55 gallon barrel option is popular for remote areas that experience droughts. Make sure to choose one with a spigot towards the bottom of the barrel for easy water dispensing. 

You might be surprised to learn that Mylar bags can actually be used to store water. These are handy because they have a strong seal and are resistant to tearing. It can also make your emergency water supply more portable in an evacuation situation. 

Source: Emergency Zone

Conclusion 

Be prepared for any emergency by storing enough water to last you in a disaster scenario. Don't make the mistake of waiting until the news report looks bad to start filling up bathtubs - reliable water storage is critical in an emergency. 

By knowing the proper amount of water to store, using a food grade water tank or 5 gallon buckets, and refreshing your water store every six months, you can be sure that no threat will catch you off guard.