Water Storage - Containers & Where to Store

I first want to start by saying, THANK YOU to those of you who have started to store water.  It can be overwhelming to know where to start in being prepared for disaster, but you have to start somewhere.  If we start storing water for the next few months we will be able to move along to another area of preparedness and by next year we will be in a lot better situation than we are now, right?  I hope so. 

I have been thinking the last few weeks about how important it would be to be mentally and emotionally prepared as well as physically prepared especially if we have kids.  I know my kids feed from my emotion and if there were a disaster I'd be a lot less emotional if I was physically prepared.  Please join with me in starting to prepare you family.

"If ye are prepared ye shall not fear."  D&C 38:30

If you would care to share with everybody what you have decided to do as far as water storage I'd be happy to do a spotlight on this blog.  Please email me!

Now onto this week's information.  This post feeds off the last post "Water - How much do I need?"  I highlighted multiple containers you could use for water storage and just wanted to note a little more information about the containers that I didn't know before.

Use only food-grade containers.  Commercially bottled water in PETE (or PET) plastic containers may be purchased. Follow the container’s “best if used by” dates as a rotation guideline. Avoid plastic containers that are not PETE plastic.  link

Why not use milk jugs?  To economize many people are tempted to use empty milk jugs, but don't plan to store water in these for more than 3-4 months. They are bio-degradable and will break down within 6 months. Not only may you loose your water, but if they are stored near food or other items, they may damage them.

If you are refilling your own, make sure your rotate the water every 6 months.  Rotating water will provide you with the opportunity to check the amount of stored water against what you require.  It also serves as an additional precaution against bacteria or viruses growing in containers which may not have been thoroughly or properly cleaned or sanitized.

Clean, sanitize, and thoroughly rinse all containers prior to use.   Clean used containers and lids with hot soapy water. Once the containers have been thoroughly cleaned, rinse them with water and sanitize the containers and lids by rinsing them with a solution of 1 tablespoon chlorine bleach per 1 liter of water. Leave the containers wet for two minutes, then rinse them again with water. Remember to remove the paper or plastic lid liners before washing the lids. It is very difficult to effectively remove all residue from many containers, so carefully clean hard-to-reach places like the handles of milk jugs. To sanitize stainless steel containers, place the container in boiling water for 10 minutes. Never use containers that previously held chemicals.

Where to Store Water

Clearly label all water containers “drinking water” with the current date. Store the water in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Do not store it near gasoline, kerosene, pesticides or similar substances.





Tip:  If you have freezer space, storing some water in the freezer is a good idea. If you lose electricity, the frozen water will help keep foods in your freezer frozen until the power is restored. Make sure you leave 2 to 3 inches of space in containers because water expands as it freezes

Tip: If supplies run low, never ration water. Drink the amount you need today and try to find more for tomorrow. You can minimize the amount of water your body needs by reducing activity and staying cool.