Life is very unpredictable and as such, we have to be prepared for anything that it can throw at us and must learn to store water at home. The very thought of having no access to water sounds terrible and scary but it can happen to anyone of us. The only solution for this is to store water for unforeseen situations. Natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, or tornadoes can disrupt or contaminate our water supply lines.
It is due to this reason that we should think of an effective and efficient way to store water in our homes. Furthermore, our body can only go without water for 72 hours so the need for water, for life sustenance is, without a doubt, enormous.
FEMA has issued a guideline stating every individual should have enough water to last three days in case of events that may cut off our regular water supply. A good rule of thumb is to have 1-gallon of water for every individual per day.
Before we start talking about the different ways in which you can store water, we would like to clear a myth related to water.
Water cannot expire. Period. And that is something you need to know when learning to store water at home.
You only need to ensure your water is not subjected to any contamination, be it biological or chemical. If you are successful in doing this, you will never have to worry about your water being unusable. Just be sure to choose an efficacious and correct water storage system and you’ll be good to go. Also, there are a few water filter options that you can use to treat water which we’ll discuss later in this article.
To make it easier for you to know your options, we will list out ways to store water according to time durations.
– Storing Water for a Month or Longer
1. Cisterns or Tanks
This system is perfect for storing water for longer periods of time, if you have the room. They are made of sturdy, food-grade plastic or concrete and are enormous. If you want to store water for long periods or if you have a bigger family, this method will be perfect for you. In fact, you can also use them to collect rainwater. The only con of these tanks or cisterns is that they require a lot of space to fit due to their size and are super expensive.
2. Water Barrels
You can never go wrong with water barrels. Firstly, they give you a 55-gallon barrel storage capacity. Secondly, they are made of food-grade plastic and perfect for heavy-duty use. Thirdly, they are blue in color and as such can stop algae growth by limiting light. Fourthly, the plastic is UV-resistant and BPA-free. All these reasons make storing water in these barrels the first choice of many people. You just need to make sure that the water stored in these barrels are properly treated. Also, don’t forget the pump to get the water out. If you don’t have a pump, that may be a future story to tell.
3. WaterBOB Bathtub Water Storage Container
WaterBOBs can hold up to a hundred gallons of water. You just need to place this heavy-duty plastic bag in your bathtub and fill it with water from your faucet, if you still have access to uncontaminated water. They are extremely sanitary and protect the water from any contamination. The only problem here is that these plastic containers are not exactly emergency-friendly. You need to store water in advance which may not be possible in case of sudden calamities.
– Storing Water for a Fortnight or So
1. Regular Water Bottles
The most convenient way to store water is to just purchase pre-packaged bottled water from grocery or online stores. These bottles are portable, properly sealed and safe. It should be remembered that this option is a little more costly than others. Nevertheless, if you have a shortage of space or want a quick solution, you can always opt for these food-grade plastic water bottles. Don’t forget the volume either. 3 bottles of water isn’t going to last long.
2. 5-gallon Water Jugs
You must have already seen these water jugs. These jugs are very sturdy and made of food-grade plastic. They are nearly always blue in color. The reason for the color is that blue, as mentioned above, helps to restrict light exposure which, in turn, restricts algae growth. Similar to bottled water, water jugs facilitate easy mobility too.
3. Empty Bottles Lying in your House
This is hands down the cheapest method for storing water. You can use empty Gatorade or plastic juice containers for this purpose. Just carefully wash the bottles and later sanitize them with a bleach solution to ensure they are completely clean and ready for use.
– Inline Water Storage Line
If storing water in commercially manufactured bottles is the cheapest method, then installing a water storage system that is directly connected to your waterline is the most convenient, efficient and emergency ready. In this method, the water storage system is plumbed between your water inlet and water storage heater. This ensures that you can have access to both hot and cold water even during a water crisis as long as your water heater hasn’t failed. Also, a powerful pump is attached to regulate water pressure as needed. Only one other company like ReadyMadeWater also offers self-rotating water storage tanks that eliminate any extra effort from you. By choosing this method, you never have to worry about your water becoming contaminated or insufficient.
Filter your Water for Long Term Use
Water storage is definitely a great solution. But, there may be chances where you deplete your water supply. In this case, you would want to filter when you store water at home.
Before we discuss the different ways in which you can treat your water, you need to find a local water source through where you are able to collect water. You can use apps such as Google Earth to find a water body such as a lake or pond that is closest to your house.
We will also recommend having at least five places marked for this purpose. Invest in a couple of high-capacity plastic containers to collect the water from these water bodies and then transport back home. This may seem like a lot of effort but you’ll be thankful you took the initiative when a water crisis arises.
Returning to the topic of choosing a correct water
filter, there are many filter models available in the market. You can choose
one from the list mentioned below –
1. Faucet-mount Filter
This filter is effective enough to remove quite a few contaminants. They are really easy to install and reasonably priced. The performance of faucet-mount filter varies so you need to find one which is best suited to your needs. It should be noted that a replacement filter can cost a lot, changing the price point in the long run.
2. Undersink Filter
As the name suggests, this filter is fitted below your sink. You do not need to refill this filter but, this may not work during an emergency situation.
3. Countertop Water Filter
It do not require a plumber to install a countertop water filter. You can either connect it to your faucet or have gravity-fed filters. The need for constant refilling is also eliminated here. The biggest advantage of this filter is that you can purify water even during emergencies.
Countertop water filters are also easy to maintain and convenient. There are many varieties available in the market and as such you can choose one which suits you best.
4. Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Before we get into further detail, we have to warn you that RO filters are incredibly costly both in terms of price and water wastage. These filters are connected to electricity and thus, stops functioning when the power goes out. They may remove desirable minerals from the water as well.
5. Pitcher Filter
Pitcher filters are perfect when you want to remove chlorine and other similar contaminants from the water. Also, the water may become contaminated due to sitting in the plastic for a long period of time. Having said all this, pitcher filters are perfect when you want to remove smell and improve the taste of the water.
These are also quite cheaper when compared to the other filters mentioned in the list. Still, as they only remove select contaminants, we suggest avoiding this filter.
Well, we hope that this information is useful for you.
These were some of the easiest and effective ways to store water in your home. To conclude, you should definitely start looking for an emergency water storage solution. For the water tanks, buy one that is made out of food-grade plastic. You can also opt for stainless steel water tanks but you have to keep chlorine-treated water out of it. This is because chlorine corrodes steel.
Always research the company from which you want to buy your water storage system. Ask them questions about their products and read customer reviews before placing your order. In the end, they should provide you quality and durable products that are well within your budget.
Once you succeed in doing this, you can rest easy when it comes to having access to water even during emergencies. Don’t be afraid to store water at home because you aren’t sure how, just start and learn along the way.
Nevertheless, whichever option you choose, just remember to seal your stored water to protect it from any contamination. When it comes to water, it is better to not take any risks and be prepared, always.