Water Preparedness

“Water, water everywhere, so let’s all have a drink.” -- Homer Simpson

Nice try, Homer. But the line from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” reads: “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.”

So who’s right? The man of excess or the man describing the Mariner stuck out at sea?

The truth is, it doesn’t take a large-scale disaster for us to experience “nor any drop to drink.” While you can live for some time with little or no food, you can’t survive long without water. Your body dehydrates and becomes susceptible to disease brought about by poor hygiene. But the good news is that it is a relatively inexpensive fix!

How can I store an adequate supply of safe water?

Buy bottled water. It is the best and most efficient use of your preparedness dollars. A 2 ½-gallon container costs about $2.50, with smaller sizes costing a bit more per gallon.

You should have at least one gallon of water per person per day. Following the U.S. Government’s recommendations, a family of three will need forty-two gallons of water for each person to have a two-week supply. If you buy 18 of the 2 ½-gallon containers, your family would have enough water for fourteen days of a disaster – for less than $50!

Do you have room to store forty-two gallons? Stacked two or three high, these 2 ½-gallon containers take up the space of a normal television set. Keep costs down by transferring water from the large to the smaller hand-sized containers. Watch expiration dates – if you store tap water, rotate frequently or purchase water stabilization products.

What are some safe sources of water, other than my stored water?

If a disaster can be predicted, fill your bathtubs, sinks and any container you can find. Use this for sanitation (e.g. working your toilets). Try to save stored water for drinking.

Your water heater is a potential safe source for drinking water. Although not the most pleasant tasting, it is the same water you drink from the tap. Most water heaters have a spigot near the bottom where you can drain the water. Use the first few gallons for hygiene use (there may be lime deposits at the bottom) and let it cool before drinking.

How can I ensure the water I am drinking is safe?

Besides bottle water, which should be safe until the expiration date, consider it in need of purification. Be suspicious of all water sources. Certain disasters could contaminate your water supply without you ever knowing.

Boil the water for at least 10 minutes or add one of the readily available and inexpensive water treatments. We can all live for awhile without a drink of water, but drinking just a few drops of contaminated water can make us sick.

This explanation of water preparedness is merely a starting point. With additional research, you can develop an efficient water plan. One that will make Homer’s words come true.

Or you may find yourself in the same boat as the old Mariner left out at sea.

Plan.  Provide.  Protect…The Sovereign Deed Promise™